Oysters, wine and a packed vendor lineup are heading back to Champions Square next month as New Orleans gears up for the ninth annual Shuck Cancer fundraiser. The event, set for Thursday, Nov. 19, is built around a simple idea: good food and drink can help cover the cost of getting cancer patients to and from treatment.
The American Cancer Society GenNow Network of New Orleans is hosting this year's fundraiser, which is presented by LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, according to myneworleans.com. As in past years, the event is also covered by Biz New Orleans, which notes that Shuck Cancer is supported by LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center along with additional community sponsors. Organizers describe the event as a community partnership meant to close gaps in access and support for people facing a cancer diagnosis.
Guests can expect roughly 100 vendors spread across Champions Square, offering oyster varieties from around the country alongside wine pairings, cuisine from local restaurants, craft brews, a silent auction and live entertainment, myneworleans.com reports. An exclusive patron party runs from 6 to 7 p.m. before general admission opens, with the event wrapping up at 10 p.m., according to the published schedule cited by felipestaqueria.com.
Why the Money Matters for Louisiana Patients
Every ticket sold and sponsorship secured goes toward access to care for cancer patients across Louisiana, Biz New Orleans reports. Funds support American Cancer Society programs that provide transportation and lodging assistance to patients receiving treatment, helping reduce the financial burden of traveling for medical care, per the same outlet. Those programs include Road To Recovery, which offers rides to cancer-related medical appointments, and Hope Lodge, which provides complimentary lodging for eligible patients and caregivers receiving treatment away from home, according to felipestaqueria.com.
Dr. Lucio Miele, director of LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center, said approximately 30,000 Louisianans are diagnosed with cancer each year, myneworleans.com reports. Miele also said many cancer patients in Louisiana suffer poor outcomes, according to Biz New Orleans. LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center has said it is committed to ensuring patients across the state can access advanced treatment and care-navigation resources.
Alfredo Sanchez said Shuck Cancer brings the community together to support cancer patients across Louisiana, per Biz New Orleans. Fundraising for the event draws on contributions from Honorary Shuckers, sponsorships and ticket sales, the outlet notes. Each Honorary Shuicker commits to raising at least $10,000 for the American Cancer Society's mission, a commitment myneworleans.com also confirms.
Fundraising Totals Vary by Source
How much Shuck Cancer has raised since its 2018 launch depends on which account you check. Biz New Orleans and myneworleans.com both put the cumulative total at more than $6 million raised to help remove barriers to cancer care for Louisiana patients. But the event's own website, shuckcancer.org, states that donors have raised over $2 million since 2018 through its Access to Care Grant Program. A March 2026 release from PR Newswire had placed the total at more than $5 million, after the 2025 event reportedly surpassed $1 million in a single year for the first time in the fundraiser's history. The discrepancies suggest the figures may track different funding streams, but none of the sources reconcile the gap.
The growth trend, at least, is consistent across editions. An October 2024 article from myneworleans.com's earlier coverage put the total near $2.8 million at that point, while an October 2025 piece from the same outlet cited nearly $4 million raised. Shuckcancer.org separately notes that the American Cancer Society provided more than 323,000 rides to more than 35,000 patients nationwide through transportation programs in 2022, underscoring the scale of need the organization says it is working to meet.
Community Fundraisers Build Toward the Big Night
Local businesses are already pitching in ahead of the Nov. 19 event. Felipe's Taqueria is running a round-up campaign at its New Orleans and Metairie locations from Oct. 14 through Nov. 13, inviting guests to round up purchases for Shuck Cancer, according to felipestaqueria.com. The restaurant and owner Pike Howard earned Top Shucker recognition in 2024 after raising $102,780 for the cause, with guests contributing more than $5,700 through round-up donations that Felipe's matched that year, the site notes.
Event details for Nov. 19 include an entirely outdoor setup, with weather expected in the 50s or 60s, according to shuckcancer.org. Suggested attire is listed as “Winter Nice Casual.” Parking is available at the Champions Garage on Girod and LaSalle streets for $15 if purchased in advance or $25 the day of the event, and discounted room rates are available for attendees at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, per the event's own information page.
The American Cancer Society describes itself as a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research and patient support, and says it has worked for more than 100 years to advance cancer prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship. For a city with a deep oyster culture, Shuck Cancer has carved out a niche as one of the more hands-on ways locals can funnel a night out directly into covering a stranger's ride to chemotherapy.
