Mission

The mission of Casting for Recovery is to enhance the quality of life of women, who are recovering from breast cancer, through the sport of fly fishing within a supportive environment at week-end retreats.

The retreats offer opportunities for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life and experience healing connections with other women and nature.

Casting for Recovery retreats are open to women of all ages, in all stages of recovery and are free to participants.

Casting for Recovery Goals

The goals of Casting for Recovery are to:

Give each participant a respite from familiar surroundings and routines in a natural setting, where
        well-being can flourish
Provide a welcoming environment, free of family responsibility and other concerns,
        helping participants take charge of their own wellness
Provide a weekend of fun and support incorporating the wonderful sport of fly fishing
Allow participants to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the outdoors and to be in the moment
Provide the opportunity for participants to practise fly fishing skills
Provide participants with an opportunity for healing at no expense
Offer the opportunity to meet new friends, network, exchange information and have fun.

History

Casting for Recovery was founded in 1996 by two women in the USA, a breast cancer reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher. They combined their skills to develop the initial Casting for Recovery program.

Casting for Recovery has inspired international efforts in Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and now in the Australian Capital Territory.

Casting for Recovery’s innovative program focuses on women recovering from breast cancer and improving quality of life. It has attracted endorsements from medical and psychosocial experts.

Why Fly Fishing and Breast Cancer?

The concept is unique. Fly fishing and the casting motion provide a movement for joint and soft tissue stretching. Fly fishing uses a whole range of body movements. Post-surgery, a mastectomy scar has a tendency to adhere to the nearest tissue possible, thereby limiting movement. Casting a rod opens up the chest area with both arms in use in differing directions and a range of shoulder, back and hip movements.

On a social level, women are given the opportunity to experience a new activity in a safe environment amongst a supportive group of peers. The retreats provide a new outlet – fly fishing – as a counterbalance from the everyday stresses and challenges of living with cancer.

Fast Facts

In the ACT, every day a woman is diagnosed with cancer.

The main purpose of the retreat is to provide a new, entertaining experience through the sport of fly fishing in a friendly, supportive atmosphere and to create a pleasant diversion for attendees from every day life challenges.

Experience with the programs internationally shows the Casting for Recovery opportunity can be therapeutic. Occasionally, participants have taken up fly fishing as their main leisure pursuit!

Casting for Recovery USA has compiled research projects attesting to the power of the Casting for Recovery mission. Data show a significant reduction in emotional, physical and spiritual concerns for women post-retreat.

In 2011 and 2012, Casting for Recovery USA was the subject of a National Comprehensive Cancer Network study. It found that Casting for Recovery participants had experienced a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and other distress symptoms associated with recovery from breast cancer. The study’s conclusion was that Casting for Recovery is a valuable program to reduce and/or identify areas of emotional distress for women recovering from breast cancer.

Post-retreat evaluations show that:

97% would recommend the program to others
95% felt connected with other participants
92% gained a new support base with new friends
88% felt better able to cope with their situation
89% felt more aware and accepting of themselves
88% learned something new about living with breast cancer.

Who are the ACT Fly Fishers?

ACT Fly Fishers Inc. is a Canberra based fly fishing club focussed on the needs of freshwater and saltwater fly fishers. It was established in 1978 and has around 140-150 members, of which 10-15 % are women.

The club is an Incorporated Association within the Australian Capital Territory. It meets its obligations under the Incorporated Associations Act. This includes submitting audited annual financial accounts to the ACT Government.

The club has a full Council, which meets every second month. The club is active, meets twice a month with guest speakers and skills nights. Club fishing trips are scheduled throughout the year.

The club has supported the Casting for Recovery initiative as a means of supporting women with breast cancer and also giving something back to the Canberra community.

More details are at www.actflyfishers.org.au