Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, the unique outdoor programme which provides fly fishing retreats for women who have, or have had, breast cancer, took 14 brave ladies for an unforgettable weekend at the Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and fishing at the Valley Dam fishery from 24-26 April, 2009.
Casting for Recovery (CfR) provides fly fishing programmes at idyllic retreats around the UK and Ireland. 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 are provided at no cost to participants due to major financial backing from the Countryside Alliance. Appropriate clothing and fishing tackle is provided by Orvis UK. The Lake Vyrnwy retreat was attended by several ladies from across Wales who tried fly fishing for the first time at the Valley Dam Fishery, which is a hidden gem of a fishery at Llanfihangel and perfect for the intimate feel of a CfR retreat.
Fly fishing is a gentle exercise which requires no strength and is exactly the sort of exercise in which recovering breast cancer patients can participate safely. Fly fishing also offers those on retreat 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 six retreats, has helped 72 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: "This is the second retreat we have held in Wales, and we are always delighted to be back in the beautiful Welsh countryside, which seems to have had a magical effect on these ladies. Lake Vyrnwy is a beautiful setting for CfR’s brand of therapy, and I can’t thank Valley Dam fishery owner Brian Earp and his team enough for supporting the programme. The weekend is all about giving these ladies an unforgettable experience and judging by the smiles on our participants’ faces we have succeeded!"
