Frustrated and weary, Steve O’Brien wanted to act. During seven tough months of 1999, the 40-something high school teacher lost his mother and grandmother to cancer. His mom had battled lung cancer for four years. At her wake, he decided to "light a candle instead of cursing the darkness." Steve, a Key West native, didn’t pick up the paddle until he was 42. He started paddling waterways in South Florida as well as the Keys. He found kayaking a source of solitude, peace and spirituality. Being on the water was a place to clear his mind and, not to mention, get some exercise.

Epiphany

What happened next, Steve calls "an inspired moment." He decided to use his passion as a way to help. Knowing he couldn’t go back to school, become a doctor and find a cure for cancer himself, he decided to help those who are already in the labs.

He dreamed up a plan to hop in a kayak, paddle the Atlantic Ocean down to Key West and raise money for cancer research. His original plan was to do it by himself. Just Steve, the water, the mangroves, a change of clothes and a mission. But as he tells it, "I realized I couldn’t stand myself alone for a week." So he took his admittedly wild idea back to his friends and co-workers.

Steve felt the trio was solid, but didn’t want any of them to be alone in a kayak. He wanted a fourth to fill out two tandems, so Bob tapped his younger brother Patrick, a reporter for Newsradio 610 WIOD in Miami. Although not in the best shape, Patrick embraced the challenge of a lifetime and rounded out the Castaways Against Cancer. He also combined the kayak trip with work, calling in each day of the trip to update listeners on the team’s progress.

The Misspelled Tour

The following spring, Isenberg decided the one experience was enough for him and opted to stay in kayak retirement. Patrick offered to ask a friend of his, Chad Forbes. Patrick and Chad had met while working together at a Boy Scout summer camp in Punta Gorda. Over burgers and beer before a Jimmy Buffett concert, Patrick and Bob asked Chad, a Graphic Designer, for a Miami Architectural Sign Company, to join the team. Wearing a lei around his neck and gripping a cold one, Chad simply exclaimed, "Awesome!"

That Gone Fishing Tour

In 2002, no change was made to the team or the travel map. The only change was the month on the calendar. The previous two years, the Castaways paddled in June, just after school let out for the summer. But in ‘02, Bob taught summer school. As a result, the kayak trip was pushed back to July. The Castaways learned an important lesson that summer. July is actually hotter than June. As OB mentioned in an interview for WIOD, "It was nice today. Warm and sunny. In fact, we were four feet from the surface of the sun." The team again raised $10,000 for cancer research and arrived safely in Old Town.

Evolution

The powerful grip of evolution took over the Castaways in 2003. New horizons were tested as two rookie paddlers joined the fray, a veteran took a break and the Captain went solo.

Craig Engler, Chad's roommate (left), and Jeff Croucher (right), Patrick's friend since birth, decided to throw caution to the wind and join the kayak team. Craig is a scientist for NOAA in Miami, while Jeff is a scientist for Fugro Chance Inc. in Lafayette, Louisiana. Both fields of work have them traveling all over the world to study the ocean in one way or another.

All of these changes added up to many firsts for the Castaways: the first time we used three boats, the first time we had more than four paddlers and the first time we were without a true navigator. In 2003, the Castaways battled wind, rain, back to back 30-mile days, exhaustion and heat. But the upside made up for all of the aches and pains. The team was able to raise more than $15,000 for the ACS, finally breaking the $10,000 plateau for the first time.

The Salty Dog Tour

While the 2004 adventure will be remembered for great weather and awe-inspiring marine life, the trip will always be defined by its opening act. As Castaways crossed Government Cut at the Port of Miami, 4th year veteran Chad was thrown off-balance and capsized. Already out of the channel, Patrick and Jeff fought their way back in to assist their fallen comrade. After a tense showdown with an outgoing freighter, and a fortunate rescue from a passing Samaritan, all six made it across with some bruised egos, a few scratches, and one hell of a story. 2004 was also a great year for exposure. The Castaways had their first ever TV news exposure on CBS-4 in South Florida. In addition to the usual coverage on WIOD, a pre-trip interview with Paul and Ron on Big 105.9-FM proved to be helpful. Several boaters knew who the Castaways were before the team could toot its own horn. Many said they heard about the trip on the radio. Upon arrival in Key West, the team was front page news in The Citizen. The Castaways were also inducted into the Conch Republic Navy.

For The Dutchman

Not that we needed another reason to paddle, but in 2005 the mission grew more personal. After helping raise thousands of dollars for cancer research over the years, in January, team navigator Bob Linfors was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma, and like so many of the people we’ve paddled for was forced to undergo chemotherapy. Armed with a new sense of purpose, the Castaways planned their journey. After the close call in 2004, the launch point was now from Key Biscayne, a mile south of the dreaded Government Cut. The launch, however, was delayed due to the passing of Hurricane Dennis. In order to keep our various lodging reservations, the journey had to be cut a day short. For the first time since 2000, the Castaways returned to lauch from Black Point Marina.

2005 was also the year of.. the Toilet Seat. After discovering Toilet Seat Row in 2004, the following Spring, Jeff purchased a toilet seat, painted it red, white and blue, drew our team logo on the cover and wrote, "Miami to Key West; Since 2000; You Can't Hurt Steel". We humped it all the way to the channel and installed the work of art. Last we checked, it was still there.

At the end of our journey, as we rounded the White Street pier and approached the shores of the Wyndam Casa Marina, in the distance we saw our fellow Castaway, Bob, welcoming us back to the Conch Republic. We are proud to say that Bob beat his cancer, and is a reminder that we will never stop fighting.

The Seven Year Itch

After six years, the Castaways Against Cancer had raised more than $90,000 for the American Cancer Society and were looking forward to the summer of 2006. Their 7th-annual brought more changes. For instance: the addition of our first rookie in 3 years.

Anthony Berger (left), a co-worker and friend of Patrick, thus rounded out the 7th trip... with a 7th kayaker. And in a strange twist of fate, a last minute cancellation of veteran member Craig Engler brought about the addition of another rookie for the 2006 adventure, Jeff's brother-in-law, Greg Trainor (right).

As if starting off with eight paddlers wasn't enough to make OB sweat, there were two "Junior Castaways" that joined the crew for the first few days.. Dave Bracknell who had recently completed the Paddle Across Florida, and an extra special guest Sandy Valdes (a member of the Iron Manatee Club), who's efforts helped raise close to $20,000 for the ACS through Christopher Columbus High School.

Die Another Day

Bad weather.. the '007 ballad for Year Eight. No changes to the course, but Mother Nature ruled the seas. Thanks to TS Barry, the loss of day one took the crew to their secondary launch point of Black Point Marina (used in '00 & '05). Another shock was the near loss of Veteran Castaway, Patrick, who valiantly stayed home to care for his possibly ill, and expecting wife, Patty.

New challenges and New Castaways... a South Florida Firefighter, Pedro Almedia (left), decided to put his mettle to the test and contacted OB with his interest. And after many years of support, Adam Scholer (right), a teacher at Columbus finally committed to pulling a paddle for the cause.

Despite the adversities before them, Patrick returned on Day Two to complete the trip after hearing good news back home. The same day Nick Woll, Frank & Monica's son, joined us for a community service project for his graduation. But most notably, the crew broke all previous records bringing in over $40,000 for the ACS (over $160,000 total since 2000, if you're keeping track).

The Whole Nine Yards Tour

The dates are set, fundraising is underway, and we're ready to give cancer: The Whole Nine Yards. This year's adventure will take place from May 31st to June 6th, 2008! You're invited to see our team off from Virginia Key at 0700 (at the beach just west of the Miami Seaquarium)

Currently there is no change to the course, but we do have a new Rookie in the mix! Monica Woll of our esteemed sponsor Florida Bay Outfitters will be joining the crew for all seven days of the trip. Monica, co-owner of FBO, is no slouch when it comes to paddling. She is a Trail Specialist for the Office of Greenways and Trails on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. Say that ten times fast!

In addition to the newbie, after a year off, veteran Chad Forbes will be returning to the water. Unfortunately, he will only be able to join for the first couple days before departing the crew at Alabama Jacks on night two, or FBO on day three. On a similar note, veteran Anthony Berger has bowed out of the trip for at least the next few years and still hopes to be supporting the Castaways from the shore. Our goal has not changed: Find a cure. How? Together. We've had a lot of fun kayaking the Keys and hope to do it for years to come -- and the team never plans to lose focus. As Steve says, "Kayaking reminds me of chemo. It's long, repetitive and very private. You just have to battle to find the good when you're feeling so bad." Stay tuned to these very pages for updates of our next journey.