Casting for Recovery - UK & Ireland
by Paul Sharman
Combining therapy and support for breast cancer patients with the gentle art of fly fishing, Casting for Recovery which originated in the USA in 1996, has now arrived in the UK & Ireland thanks to the England Ladies Flyfishing Association.
I recently met up with Sue Hunter - UK & Ireland Programme Co-ordinator, and Sue Shaw - Coaching Co-ordinator at the British Fly Fair up at Trentham Gardens, where they were able to share with me more details of this wonderful organisation and what it means to those involved.
In the USA, over 3,000 breast cancer survivors have already been helped by the programme and with their first UK retreat held at Duncton Mill successfully under their belt (10 out of the 11 participants have since gone on to take up fly fishing), the two Sue's are busily engaged in planning now for the 4 retreats they are setting up for 2008. England, Wales and Ireland are already covered with Scotland and the North of England to come. As Sue Hunter explained, "Fly fishing is the gel that holds all the other details together. The retreats provide counselling and education on breast cancer and the impact on lives both physically and emotionally. The gentle motion of fly casting is similar to the exercises that surgeons prescribe for soft tissue stretching post-surgery and of course has it's own therapeutic value by being in a peaceful natural setting."
All the costs of the programme are covered by the Countryside Alliance and the tackle and clothing is generously donated by Orvis UK. Any woman who has experienced breast cancer is eligible to atend a retreat (with medical clearance for her doctor). Sue Shaw added "We provide between 3 - 4 qualified coaches per retreat and all team members are carefully selected for their empathy with the ideals of the organisation and are very participant focused."
Fish & Fly are pleased to be able to offer our help in publicising the retreats and so you can expect to see more details in future as they are released. We will also be shortly hosting a charity auction of a boxed set of salmon flies tied by our own Simon Young, with all proceeds going to Casting for Recovery. Please watch for full details coming soon.
For more information on both the organisation and the 2008 programme please see the contact details below.
Contact Details:
Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland
PO Box 3611
Slough, Berkshire
SL3 3BY, England
info@castingforrecovery.org.uk