Casting for Recovery retreat benefits from perfect weather and great fishing

Twelve ladies from across the country took part in the latest Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland retreat, at the Test in Hampshire

A great weekend of fly-fishing and fellowship was held by Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland - the medical fly-fishing programme for ladies who have or have had breast cancer – at the Test, Hants (26-28 July).

Organiser Sue Shaw said: "This was our 12^th retreat in fabulous fishing surroundings and 12 ladies joined us for the weekend. It was a great success. The weather was gorgeous and all the ladies caught one or more rainbow trout. One also caught a blue trout, which was very impressive. The ladies had a wager on the largest fish caught and it was 4.25lb so a great result."

The retreat was just the second outing for nearly £10,000 of new equipment, funded by a National Lottery grant to CfR UK&I. The charity has bought 18 Orvis Clearwater rods, reeds and fly-lines and 25 Orvis Encounter jackets for the ladies to wear during the weekends.

The retreat team was also presented with a cheque for £204 from the Test Valley Hunt Point Retrieve Club which will go straight towards the costs of the weekend. The money was raised by a raffle held at an event at Kimbridge.

One of the retreat attendees, Maggie, commented: "What an incredible weekend! Just wanted to thank you and all the team for a truly great experience – fabulous location, great food and, most importantly, kindness and support at every turn.

"I realise the weekend was the first time since my op when I've had the time, space or permission to really reflect on my diagnosis and to be able to do that in the company of a group of very lovely kindred spirits has been something very special. I am in a much better place to move on and embrace whatever the future may hold."

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland is run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF), the charity set up to increase access to the countryside and to use it for education, fun and healing. It works on the simple principle that fly fishing is wonderful therapy for those recovering from breast cancer.

The programme takes ladies on a two-day residential retreat where fly fishing tuition is part of a packed itinerary that also includes counselling, relaxation and medical advice. The residential retreat aims to help both body and mind, with the medical and counselling aspects complementing the gentle physical therapy of the fly-casting motion.

We are extremely grateful to the fly fishing and medical volunteers who take time to ensure that the ladies all enjoy their weekend and to our generous hosts.

CfR will run six retreats throughout 2019. Our next takes place in Forbes of Kingennie, in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, from 13-15 September.