Countryside Alliance
Casting for Recovery Reveals its 2009 Grand Slam Schedule
Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland has revealed its 2009 retreat schedule* and will be providing fly fishing retreats for women who have, or have had, breast cancer across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Casting for Recovery provides fly fishing programmes at idyllic retreats around the UK and Ireland. In 2009 it is set to deliver an ambitious programme, holding retreats in each of the home nations for the first time. Any woman who has experienced breast cancer is eligible to apply to attend a retreat (with medical clearance from their doctor).
Retreats take place over two-and-a-half days and all accommodation, meals, counselling, and professional instruction is provided at no cost to participants due to major financial backing from the Countryside Alliance. The retreats at Kimbridge on the Test, The Peacock at Rowsley and Heathcote Lakes at Warwick have been donated with only minimal costs applied. Appropriate clothing and fishing tackle is provided by Orvis UK.
Brookhall Ladies Group
Fly fishing offers proven benefits for recovering breast cancer patients; gentle exercise is recommended by physiotherapists for joint and soft tissue mobility. Fly fishing also offers participants a chance to reflect and escape in tranquil surroundings.
Casting for Recovery was founded in the United States in 1996 and has since helped over 3,000 breast cancer survivors. In the UK and Ireland it began in 2006 and, over five retreats, has helped 60 women.
The UK and Ireland Programme Co-ordinator is Sue Hunter, who recovered from breast cancer to become an international gold medallist fly fisher. Sue said: “2009 promises to be a Grand Slam year for Casting for Recovery, with retreats in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Pauline receives instruction
"Although we have already held retreats in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, this coming year will see our first ever retreats in Scotland and in the Republic of Ireland. The dedicated Casting for Recovery team is very much looking forward to bringing the programme’s special brand of therapy to some very brave and deserving ladies.”
*2009’s programme consists of retreats at:
- 24 – 26 April - Wales, Powys - Valley Dam Fishery and Lake Vyrnwy Hotel
- 8-10 May - England, Warwickshire - Heathcote Lakes, Warwick and The Glebe Hotel, Barford
- 10- 12 June - Ireland, Co Mayo - Mount Falcon
- 17 – 19 July - England, Hampshire - Kimbridge on the Test
- 18- 20 September - Northern Ireland, Co Antrim - Brookhall Trout Fishery
- 25 – 27 September - Scotland, Angus - Forbes of Kingennie
- 4 – 6 October - England, Derbyshire - The Haddon Estate and The Peacock Hotel
Ladies interested in joining a retreat should email Sue Hunter at info@castingforrecovery.org.uk or write to Sue at: Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, PO Box 3611, Slough, Berkshire, SL3 3BY
Places at retreats are allocated by ballot and are subject to medical clearance.
More information on CfR is available at www.castingforrecovery.org.uk
Photographs of previous retreats are available from jill-grieve@countryside-alliance.org
Countryside Alliance Media Officer Jill Grieve
Jill Grieve
The first ever fly fishing retreat to be held in Ireland took place this year at Brookhall Trout Fishery near Lisburn from 19-21st September. Fourteen women, nine from Northern Ireland, five from the Republic of Ireland, came together through Casting for Recovery, a unique outdoor-based programme specifically designed for women who have, or have had, breast cancer.
The retreat took place over two-and-a-half days and all accommodation, meals, counselling, and professional instruction were provided at no cost to participants due to the financial backing of the Countryside Alliance, although
Trained female medical staff and fly fishing instructors were on hand at all times, and the fishing tackle and appropriate clothing was provided by Orvis UK. The fishing at Brookhall was kindly donated by owners Kenny Ferguson, Cathryne Boyce, and Marty Robb.
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In support of Casting for Recovery's aims the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) Northern Ireland donated a substantial number of fish to supplement the already generously stocked water at Brookhall.
The ethos of Casting for Recovery is to bring ladies together to relax, learn a new skill and meet others with whom they have the shared experience of breast cancer. We could not have asked for more of the team at Brookhall - they provided the ladies with a wonderful experience that they will never forget and they really understood Casting for Recovery's aims.
These fourteen ladies have had the perfect Casting for Recovery retreat - where else can you practice your casting with Vietnamese pot bellied pigs rambling past? Casting for Recovery will be delighted to go back to Brookhall in 2009 to introduce more women to the delights of the programme in this beautiful setting.
Jill Grieve
Head of Communications Countryside Alliance