Warwickshire countryside is therapy

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.  This retreat was made possible with a generous donation by Dulley Ceiling PartitionsCP Ltd. Appropriate clothing and fishing tackle is provided by Orvis UK. The Heathcote Lakes retreat, second of seven retreats across the UK and Ireland in 2009 which are supported financially by the Countryside Alliance, saw ladies from across Britain try fly fishing for the first time at a picturesque lake nestled amongst acres of arable farmland.

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 84 women have now been through the programme over seven retreats.

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: “Casting for Recovery exists to provide a supportive, fun and memorable experience for participants, and we have really succeeded in Warwickshire. The team and I were delighted to give the ladies the opportunity to try fly fishing at such an amazing location. Heathcote Lakes fishery is a beautiful setting for CfR’s brand of therapy, and I can’t thank the team at The Glebe Hotel enough for their fantastic welcome and service.  I hope we can return to this part of the world to reach even more ladies.”