Three years after its namesake fell ill, the Bob O'Connor Cookie Cruise continues, the late mayor's family announced yesterday.

Once a political fundraiser, now a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the event will start at the Gateway Clipper Docks at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Food is served until 7 p.m., when "the cookie tables open up, and it's a mad dash for the cookies," said Corey O'Connor, son of the late mayor and an aide to U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle.

The boat sets sail at 7:30 p.m., stops for Zambelli fireworks, and returns to port at 9:30 p.m.

The ticket price for the 17th cookie cruise is $25, but larger donations are accepted.

The event is handled by the O'Connor family, friends and former campaign insiders, all working as volunteers.

Tickets can be ordered by calling the O'Connor house at 412-521-3931, and can be had up to the day of the cruise. The boat's capacity is 1,000 people, and last year the event drew 1,500, some of whom did not stay for the cruise.

Mr. O'Connor fell ill in July 2006, just six months after his inauguration, and died Sept. 1, 2006, of primary central nervous system T-cell lymphoma.