Roger Dabdab

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Roger

  • Castaways nickname: The Saint

  • Years Paddled: 2020 - 20/20 Perfect Vision Tour; 2021 - BlackJack Tour; 2022-Carry On Tour; 2023-Ridiculous Stunt Tour

  • Team Role/Function: Training Guru

  • How did you become a Castaway? I have expressed my deep admiration for the Castaway team for what they do and what they endure to help find a cure to cancer. After helping the Castaways practice in the past, I was honored to be invited to be a member this year. As the safety officer, I will help kayakers minimize risks by improving their paddling skills and upgrading the team's preparedness in dealing with non-ideal scenarios.

  • Why are you a Castaway? Cancer is a terrible disease that doesn't care about one's race, gender, age, national origin, or financial means. There is hardly anyone who has not seen cancer attack a family member, a friend, or co-worker. It kills, breaks so many people's hearts, and destroys entire families emotionally and financially. I lost a dear aunt and uncle to the disease. I don't want people to have to lose their loved ones to it. The Castaways are doing something about it by raising money and awareness, offering hope and real resources to humanity. I was very attracted by the team's deep commitment in making a real difference in the service to their fellow man, and their camaraderie and unity toward fulfilling the Castaways' mission.

  • Outside a kayak/bicycle, what is your "essential" gear? I always have a PFD (lifejacket), a whistle, paddle float, bilge pump, sponge, and a knife. I wear rash guard long sleeve shirts and pants to protect against the sun (apart from putting on suntan lotion and wearing a hat + sunglasses). I may wear a shorty wet suit if the temperature of air and/or water requires it. If I'm paddling in open water or in remote locations I take my VHF radio with me.

  • Conch Republic Navy Rank? Haven’t had the honor of being inducted yet.

  • Favorite Castaways moment: N/A

  • Favorite Castaways quote: N/A

  • My Family: The family emigrated from Lebanon in 1984 to escape the civil war there. My brother lives in Illinois and my parents lived with me the last few years until my dad went to be with the Lord last year after13 years of struggle with Alzheimer's. He was 97 years old.

  • Where are you from? Beirut, Lebanon

  • Where'd you go to school? U Penn - Wharton School of business (undergrad); Northwestern-Kellogg (MBA)

  • Where do you work? Until recently I was a Senior Manager of Internal Audit at Carnival Cruiselines.

  • Favorite music/artists: Dimash Kudaibergen, Feiruz, Michel Sardou

  • Favorite movies/genre: Romantic comedies, adventure, comedies. Favorite movies: Airplane, Pulp Fiction

  • Favorite books: New Testament (Bible), How to Win Friends and Influence People

  • Personal Fun Fact: Apart from kayaking I enjoy dancing but have not done so in a long time. I know English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

  • How have I helped carry out the CAC mission of funding cancer research and honoring those who have fought the fight? Apart from helping to raise money, I plan to involve my friends who are diagnosed with cancer or are survivors of the disease. I want to dedicate my efforts to them and to the memory of my uncle Andre Khoury and my aunt Amal Dabdab who fought the disease and passed away too early. I also plan to take my role seriously by further developing my kayaking knowledge and skills to better develop them among the team. Toward that effort, I plan to work toward my ACA Level 3 instructor certification.