£5k boost for Casting for Recovery from Peterborough-based charitable trust

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland (CfR) is delighted to receive a donation of £5,000 from the Peterborough-based Patricia Ann Seaman Will Trust.

Matthew Porter, Paulina Broda and Jennifer Valentine (l to r), all of Buckles Solicitors, Peterborough, presented the cheque to CfR programme co-ordinator, Sue Shaw and her colleague Linda Vaiciukas.

CfR has been delivering fly fishing retreats to ladies in the UK and Ireland, who have or have had breast cancer, since 2007. Fourteen ladies attend each retreat with places allocated by ballot from the applications received.

Six retreats have been planned for 2019, in North Yorkshire, South Wales, Co Mayo in the Republic of Ireland, Hampshire, Dundee and East Sussex. Our two and a half day retreats are staffed by volunteers, including counsellors, specialist nurses and qualified casting instructors.

One day is devoted to counselling, relaxation and meditation techniques, and most importantly, meeting and spending time with people who understand what they have been through.

Ladies are taught how to tie a fly and a few basic casting techniques before having the opportunity to try fly fishing on the final day.

Our programme relies upon the support of a loyal team of volunteers – from the qualified fishing guides to the volunteers making teas and coffees and providing logistical support. Many of our volunteers are past participants who want to give something back to the charity.

One of the many strengths of the Casting for Recovery programme is the way we can use the countryside as a place of healing. Another is enabling ladies who have, or have had, breast cancer to step off the treadmill of their busy lives and take the chance to reflect and have some time to themselves.

Ladies tell us that the opportunity to share experiences and to learn a new skill has had a positive impact on dealing with their diagnosis and living with breast cancer. As one of our recent ladies tells us: "Thank you Casting for Recovery for a wonderful, healing weekend with great people in beautiful surroundings. I loved learning to fish and am amazed at how much further down the road to full recovery I feel!"

Sue Shaw says: "Over the past decade, 670 women have participated in CfR retreats and we celebrated out 50^th retreat in May this year.

"There is considerable interest from ladies to participate, with many more ladies applying for places than we can accommodate. It costs on average £7,000 to deliver each retreat; this includes accommodation to ladies and volunteers and the retreat logistics.

"We are hugely grateful to the trustees of the Patricia Ann Seaman Will Trust for granting us this award which will go direct to our retreat costs. This kind donation means that 10 ladies can benefit from our weekend retreats."

Our next retreat takes place in Forbes of Kingennie, in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, from 13-15 September.

Our 2019 retreats are now closed for applications, but dates for 2020 will be available towards the end of the year.