Bob Linfors

• A founding member, original Castaway, and our forever Dutchman. Bob Linfors is a teacher at Christopher Columbus High School. 

• He served as the team’s first Navigator, discovered the truth about Jones Lagoon, and has a hankering for magical mangoes.

• Bob was forced to take a summer off in 2005 when he endured his own personal battle with cancer.

• If you want to know the hilarious tales of the early years and learn more about that amazing personal journey, get yourself a copy of "On the Salty Water" by Bob Linfors.

• Bob is married to an awesome wife, has three daughters, and looks forward to returning to the ocean… someday!

• Bob paddled 2000-2002, 2004, 2006-2010 and has been part of numerous launch ceremonies.

Dave Isenberg

• An Original Castaway. A legendary teacher at Columbus High School, Dave Isenberg joined OB, Bob Linfors, and Patrick on the very first mission of the Castaways Against Cancer in 2000.

• Having endured a challenging experience as a caregiver to a loved one with cancer, Dave paddled like a Viking that summer. Upon completion of the grueling mission, Dave put the paddle down and, legend has it, never returned to a kayak again!

• Dave, an Art teacher, is responsible for the very first team shirt, in which the t-shirt printer mistook Dave’s drawing of cattails… and had the kayaks on our shirts paddling through fields of wheat…

• Dave passed away after a 16-month battle with brain cancer on August 4, 2022. Dave’s son, Caleb, was the first legacy Castaway when he paddled in honor of his father and mother on the 2022 Carry On Tour.

Lou Aguilera

• El Toro paddled 8 years as a Castaways between 2013-2019. He showed up to CCHS one day and walked over to OB’s class with Carter Burrus and watched some CAC videos that Jeff had made. At that point Lou was inspired to take the Castaways to the next level, and that he did.

• Lou, along with Total Bank at first and then US Century Bank where served as President, helped raise more funds, improved CAC swag, and made connections like the CAC had not done before.

• Lou’s wit on the water often brought Castaways to drop the paddle in a burst of laughter. His pessimistic attitude pushed the CAC to dream bigger. His kindness and giving attitude covered many drinks (and other things) that most weren’t aware of.

• The “Castaway Cabana”, Lou’s Key West home, served as a retreat on a yearly basis and as a launch point for numerous CAC training missions.

• Castaways nickname: El Toro

• Years Paddled: 2013 - Trip Around the Sun Tour;2014 - Don't Stop the Carnival Tour;2015 - East of Midnight Tour;2016 - Proof of Life Tour;2017 - Just Breathe Tour;2018 - Under the Bridge Tour;2019 - No Surrender Tour

• Team Role/Function: Team Financier (Bag Man)

• How did you become a Castaway? I was approached by an old sea-wizard named O‚Brien. He has very powerful ju-ju

• Why are you a Castaway? Nothing ever got done by sitting on the sidelines.  Don’t be afraid to leave your fingerprints on life

• Essential Gear: The Road Crew.  Don’t leave home without them!

• Personal Fun Fact: Contrary to popular belief, I am not Canadian - but some say I bare a slight resemblance to the late Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau

Pete Almeida

• Pete Almeida was a staple of the Castaways between 2007 and 2019 where he acted as the team’s safety officer and navigator. Recon made everyone on the water feel safer because of his superior paddling skills, knowledge of the water and kayaks, and the plethora of safety equipment he brought on the trip.

• Pete single handily righted the ship when a storm unexpectedly hit the team after the 7-Mile bridge where Recon performed 6 T-Rescues in under 5 minutes, securing the safety of the team.

• Castaways nickname: Recon

• Years Paddled: 2007 - Die Another Day Tour;2008 - Whole Nine Yards Tour;2009 - Blood, Sweat and Ten Years Tour;2010 - Ocean's 11 Tour;2011 - The Dirty Dozen Tour;2012 - Come Hell or High Water Tour;2013 - Trip Around the Sun Tour;2014 - Don't Stop the Carnival Tour;2015 - East of Midnight Tour;2017 - Just Breathe Tour;2018 - Under the Bridge Tour;2019 - No Surrender Tour

• Team Role/Function: Navigator / Search and Rescue Specialist / Trainer

• How did you become a Castaway? I read the trip report from the 2006 trip and thought, "That's something I'd like to do."  So, after a failed first attempt at joining the team (I called Bob first) I got in touch with Steve (OB) and joined the team.

• Why are you a Castaway? I originally joined the Castaways because I wanted to do some longer distance paddling, and yes, the fact that it’s a good cause gave it purpose.  Now, I stay because I’m afraid of what might happen if the team gets caught in another nasty storm.

Scott Anderson

• Castaways nickname: Delay

• Years Paddled: 2011-The Dirty Dozen Tour; 2012-Come Hell or High Water Tour; 2013-Trip Around the Sun Tour; 2014-Don't Stop the Carnival Tour; 2015-East of Midnight Tour;

• How did you become a Castaway? I supported the Castaways for many years, through Emeritus paddlers Chad and Craig. Over the years, I became more involved. I was a Guest Paddler in 2011, and the rest is history!

• Why are you a Castaway? First, I was supporting my friends in their noble cause. Then it became personal, through my father-in-law's battle in the late 2000s. When he passed, I had to paddle. Being a Castaway has connected me to the suffering, fear, and fight that have touched so many, and allows me to do something about it.

• What is your "essential gear" to be a good Castaway? A good paddle, seat padding, music, afternoon treats, and my companion, Hugh-Manatee.

• Where do you work? The Elder Law Firm of Scott J. Anderson, PLLC. I operate my own law firm, where I focus on the needs of our most vulnerable populations and help them navigate their life's journey.

• Personal Fun Fact: On my first day as a Guest Paddler with the Castaways, I fell out of my kayak twice - and helped create a new policy that guest paddlers had to start off in the tandem kayak!

• How have I helped carry out the CAC mission of funding cancer research and honoring those who have fought the fight? As a Castaway, my goal is to raise awareness and funds in the fight against cancer through advocacy, promotion, and being the best teammate I can be. My personal mission is to honor my family and friends, and all of those affected by this terrible disease. I've paddled over a thousand miles, raised thousands of dollars, and shared the word with thousands of people.

Anthony Berger

• Castaways nickname: Hebrew

• Years Paddled: 2006-Seven Year Itch Tour; 2010-Ocean's 11 Tour; 2011-The Dirty Dozen Tour; 2012-Come Hell or High Water Tour; 2013-Trip Around the Sun Tour; 2014-Don't Stop the Carnival Tour; 2015-East of Midnight Tour; 2017-Just Breathe Tour; 2018-Under the Bridge Tour; 2021-BlackJack Tour

• Team Role/Function: The Tire Iron’s Consigliere

• Why are you a Castaway? It helps me to remember and honor my parents.  The trip usually falls on my mother's yahrzeit (anniversary of her death).  It is now just a part of who I am.

• How have I helped carry out the CAC mission of funding cancer research and honoring those who have fought the fight? By making the Castaways Against Cancer part of who I am, not something that I do.

Jeff Croucher

• Pank. The Sauce King of Miami. El Heffe.

• Jeff Croucher, an enigma wrapped in a riddle, joined the team in 2003 after his sister endured a battle with cancer. Patrick’s life-long bestie weaseled his way in with a late-night, alcohol-induced phone call.

• Jeff paddled with the Castaways for years and made an incredible mark on the team. The team’s second webmaster, Jeff utilized video production and photos to drive awareness and results. Jeff designed logos, wrote trip reports, helped with navigation, coached new team members, engaged the Conch Republic Navy, and, well, drank a lot of wine. We are surely missing a few items, but Jeff helped shape the Castaways.

• Jeff is a fancy scientist who travels the world on ships and planes. He lives in Mississippi with his wife and family.

• Jeff paddled 2003-2014.

Craig Engler

• Craig Engler joined the team in 2003 and paddled through many missions with the Castaways Against Cancer. A graduate of FSU with El Chadio and a former NOAA scientist with a hearty laugh, Craig raised thousands in the fight against cancer.

• His kayak was always stocked with goodies – huge reserves of water, snorkeling gear, and even a kite. He survived political arguments with Recon and a wild ride with Tow Rope, but he nearly didn’t survive the “Seven Mile Bridge.”

• Nearly losing it, dehydrated, sun-baked, and exhausted, Craig earned his nickname, “The Pylon King,” while singing a song of his own creation. Paddling under and around the bridge, his song’s refrain was to the tune off “100-bottles of beer on the wall…”

• When his family moved to Virginia, Craig took up arms with the Castaways’ sister cancer-fighting team out of North Carolina, Hope Floats NC. Craig continues to fight against cancer with a kayak, a paddle and an eager sense of adventure.

• Craig has paddled with the Castaways the following years: 2003-2013; 2020

Chad Forbes

• Joining the team in 2001, a friend of Patrick’s from Boy Scout summer camp and Jimmy Buffett concerts, Chad Forbes paddled many years with the Castaways, serving as the team’s first webmaster and pop-culture savant. He paddled 2001-2006 and then again in 2009(on a sit on top).

• Chad was instrumental in the early years with event planning, internet communication, and pizza orders. Even though he’s known as “Sleepy,” El Chadio also has an infectious energy. While he had an incredible knack for falling asleep when the paddle stopped, he also could liven up the whole team with a screaming rendition of “Welcome to the Jungle.”

• Chad continues to support the Castaways from his home in Jacksonville, where he lives with his wife and two sons.

Heath Harwood

• A friend and work colleague of Jeff’s, Heath Harwood paddled with the Castaways for two years in 2009 & 2010.

• Earning the nickname Creek because of a noisy rudder cable and a cool Southern drawl, Heath fit right in, paddling well, raising funds, and having fun. He holds the honor of getting the first Castaways tattoo. He has the original logo tattooed on his arm.

• Side note – the current total of Castaways tattoos stands at six.

• Heath, his wife, and their family live in Mississippi.

Carrie Helliesen

• Carrie Helliesen – the inspiration for the Just Breathe Tour of 2017 – has been with the Castaways Against Cancer since the beginning. When the team first started, the fundraising supported the Relay for Life in Miami. For the first two years, the staff there… well… didn’t know what to do with us!

• But Carrie – who worked for the ACS in the Keys – she welcomed us with open arms each year and was thrilled to welcome our arrival in her town – Key West. It wasn’t long until the team decided to move our fundraising dollars to the RFL in the Keys. Carrie is a cancer survivor and spent a career fighting the disease. She is a tireless advocate for the work done by the ACS – and she is a tireless supporter of the Castaways.

• After retiring from the ACS, she decided to keep her support going by becoming a Castaway! She’s raised thousands as a team fundraiser and has even paddled the final leg into Key West. Carrie is also our Media Relations Specialist in the Keys, ensuring we are covered on the radio and in the newspaper.

• She is married to Doug Helliesen, who has become a key part of the Boat Crew. For many years, he has followed the team on Day 7 as it comes into Key West, keeping us hydrated and safe. And on our final break, Doug often delivers delicious mangoes! He’s also an amazing woodworker and has provided the team with some of its best recognition.

Robert Keszey

• A friend of Jeff’s and the star of the Discovery Channel series, the “Swamp Brothers,” Robert Keszey paddled with the team in 2012 & 2013.

• Having lost their mother to cancer, he and his brother Stephen, were valiant fighters, raising thousands and raising awareness.

• Earning the name “Tow Rope” for getting an assist from a passing boat, Robbie made his mark by drinking quadruple espressos and telling stories about his years in the 1980s, serving as the personal assistant to Poison’s C.C. DeVille!

• Robbie, his wife, and their family continue to support the Castaways and live in Bushnell.

Stephen Keszey

• The aforementioned brother to Robbie, Stephen Keszey, paddled four tours with the Castaways, which is ironic, considering his Castaways name is “Cameo.”

• A fan of Ohio State and the New York Mets, Stephen is the king of useless knowledge. He possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of movie quotes and sports facts and crushes the competition in on-the-water sessions of the “Name Game.” His musical selection on the water is eclectic to stay the least. Deep cuts galore.

• One of the funniest Castaways of all time, Stephen, his wife, and their family live in Orlando and continue to support the Castaways.

• Stephen paddled 2012-2014.

Oscar Ortiz

• AKA: Tank. Years Paddled: 2018 - Under the Bridge Tour2019 - No Surrender Tour;2020 - 20/20 Perfect Vision Tour

• Team Role/Function: Help in any way possible and provide additional value/help wherever I can. But there are two areas where I feel I do/can bring value.  1-my experience has educated me about the lack of funding and awareness there is for pediatric cancer. I feel strongly that educating our team has further opened people's eyes as to how important raising funds for research is.   2-my bigger goal is to build upon the incredible work the Castaways have done over the years and work with leadership to take this to another level. All while maintaining the amazing camaraderie and chemistry that currently exists amongst this incredible group.  

• How did you become a Castaway? The team graciously offered to paddle a boat in Sebastian's honor in 2017 and allowed us to begin our fundraising efforts.

• How have I helped carry out the CAC mission of finding a cure and honoring those who have fought? Directly through the establishment of the SebastianStrong Foundation whose mission is to increase awareness and raise funding for less toxic, more targeted treatments for pediatric cancer.  Within the first 15 months, since we established SebastianStrong, we've funded nearly $200,000 and three clinical trials for pediatric cancer. There is no greater way to honor Sebastian than by working the rest of my life to help others find better treatment options and outcomes than Sebs had. The ultimate goal of the foundation is to be part of something that leads to saving a child's life. There's nothing I wouldn't do to have Sebastian with me today. Unfortunately, I know that can't happen for me so I will work to make a possibility for others.

  Click here the learn more about SebastianStrong.

Rose Ortiz

• Rose Ortiz became a Castaway when her middle son, Sebastian - a Columbus Explorer & Hellion, was diagnosed with cancer at age 15 as a high school sophomore. After a 14-month battle, she lost him. Coach Eric Pino paddled in his honor in 2017 and that became our first formal fundraiser for the foundation we started in our son's honor to increase awareness and fund research for childhood cancer.

• She continues to contribute to the fight because “we need to increase awareness of the challenges children diagnosed with cancer face. Because I want to keep my son's memory alive. Because children deserve better treatment options & cures.”

• There are special moments and signs throughout the trip for each paddler, Rose remembers when Oscar pulled up on the beach at Robbie's (2 years in a row) & the chair in front of his kayak had Sebastian's cross country number (#35). It's one of the ways I know he is with us.

• Her favorite quote is: "It doesn't bring Sebastian back. Unfortunately, that's never going to be the case. I can never have him. But if I can save someone else, then that will be some level of vindication. There's got to be something better. And we have to fight for something better." ~Oscar Ortiz

Diana & Danny Perez

• “Diamond” Diana Perez, our Little Mermaid, gives leadership to the best-ever, world-famous, amazing, and spectacular Castaways Road Crew.

• Having worked with Lou Aguilera in banking for years, she joined the team along with El Toro. In 2014, her son, Danny, “El Camello,” was the first Junior Castaway, paddling a leg of the tour at the age of 14.

• Before, during, and after the trip, Diana works with the team on logistics including hotel negotiations, shirt production, and meal planning. She also serves as team muse and team mom. Mom? Sometimes, paddlers need a hug… or a kick in the coccyx!

• Diana lead an ever-growing team of Road Crew Family. She has put to work her son, David, and his friends, as well as, her awesome parents. She was also supported by family members of paddlers, especially Lou’s wife, Marisa Aguilera, and their daughters, Vic and Dani, as well as, Omar’s wife, Mercy Sellek.

• Diana is appreciated for her incredible support of the people on the team and for her valiant work in the fight against cancer. Along with Lou, she provides great leadership to the team at US Century Bank and has helped raise thousands of dollars in the fight.

Chris Tart

• Chris Tart is the Captain of Hope Floats NC, another team that paddled long distances in support of the American Cancer Society. Each April, they paddled 200-miles over 8-days along the Neuse River in North Carolina. The paddle occurred from 2012-2022. The team is regrouping and looking for other avenues to continue the fight.

• Chris’ wife Kim is a cancer survivor, and when they dreamed up a kayaking adventure to fight cancer and started researching, they found the Castaways Against Cancer. We made fast friends and shared tips and tricks. Their first mission was in 2012.

• Chris paddled as a Castaway in 2014 and earned the name “Boomer,” for his array of camera-arms sticking out from his kayak. Chris, Kim, and their family live in Lillington, NC. He also joined us for a portion of the 2019 No Surrender Tour.

Ozzie Valladares

• The Whizz joined the Castaways for what seemed to be every other year from 2014-2018(and he did). Ozzie worked for what was then Total Bank and without shame “told” his boss, Lou, that he wanted in on the Castaways. The rest is history.

• Ozzie's kayak was always full of laughs which were driven by his comments, jokes, and/or his music selection that could be heard across the bay.

• Ozzie did great work for the Castaways by bringing a young, fearless attitude and did a stellar job of fundraising.

• Ozzie now lives in Miami after spending some time up in NYC.

Nick Woll

• The previous year, Monica and Frank’s son, Nick paddled with the team. A senior in high school at the time, Nick was old enough… but too young to be exposed to sea hippies!

• Nick paddled gracefully like his parents and with long locks, ala Captain Jack Sparrow, he was nicknamed “Sparrow.”