From the Shoreline to the Showdown: Lee County Saddles Up Against Cancer
On September 26, Southwest Florida will trade its beach shoes for cowboy boots as the 2026 Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball returns to Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. The evening promises Western fun, giving, and reasons to celebrate. But behind every boot, bid, and buckle is a mission to change lives!
Since its inception, the Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised more than $6 million for the American Cancer Society and the Lee & Collier Counties Health Equity Fund. During the past five years, $1.8 million has been raised, demonstrating the community’s generosity and commitment to the mission.
Funds support cancer research, advocacy and patient services, while the evening’s mission moment benefits American Cancer Society initiatives focused on reducing health disparities in Lee and Collier counties.
“Guests come ready to have fun, but they also understand that their support has a real purpose,” said Jessica Foster, Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball Committee Co-chair. “You can put on your boots, enjoy a great night and know that you are helping a neighbor get to treatment, access a cancer screening or find a place to stay during care. That is what makes this event so special.”
Every contribution matters. A $10 donation can connect someone with encouragement through the Cancer Survivors Network, while $100 can help four people receive free support and service referrals through the American Cancer Society’s 24-hour helpline. A gift of $1,600 can place trusted cancer education into the hands of people who need guidance.
Larger investments sustain patient services. A $10,000 contribution can help volunteer drivers provide free rides for patients to cancer treatment for one month through Road To Recovery, while $25,000 can fund approximately 325 nights of free lodging at an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge.
In 2025, the American Cancer Society touched 467,640 lives across Florida by serving 333,620 people through health system partnerships, providing 70,560 rides to treatment and 49,440 nights of lodging, and assisting 14,020 people through its 24/7 helpline.
In Collier and Lee counties alone, funds raised through the Ball have expanded cancer screening access for more than 13,400 people, provided 3,555 free lodging nights to 193 patients and caregivers (saving them $616,015) and delivered nearly 3,400 rides to treatment for 450 patients.
Those numbers represent far more than services delivered. They represent patients who made it to an important appointment, caregivers who could remain close to a loved one and families who found trusted answers during an uncertain time. Through its local health equity initiatives, the American Cancer Society is working to ensure that a person’s income, transportation options or ZIP code does not stand between them and the care they need.
“Behind every number is a person, a caregiver and a family trying to navigate one of life’s most difficult moments,” said Jessica Gatewood, Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball Committee Co-chair. “When this community comes together, we are helping remove barriers and reminding our neighbors that they do not have to face cancer alone.”
Tickets and information are available at LeeCattleBarons.com.