CFR Casting for Recovery

by Susan Gaetz

For over 18 years, the Texas program of Casting for Recovery has hosted outdoor retreats for survivors and thrivers of breast cancer with a simple goal — to enhance the lives of women with breast cancer by connecting them to each other and nature through the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. The retreats are provided at no cost so women from all walks of life have equal opportunity to benefit from our healing retreat model.

Casting for Recovery (CfR) began with two women fishing – a professional fly fisher and breast cancer reconstructive surgeon. They believed that women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer could benefit physically and psychologically from the gentle sport of fly fishing. They also believed that a program like CfR would appeal to many women who aren’t drawn to more traditional support groups.

The vast majority of women who attend a CfR retreat have never tried fly fishing, and between 65-70% have never attended a breast cancer support group. So we know the program has an appeal, whether it’s the excitement of trying something totally new, like fly fishing, or being connected/reconnected to nature among a supportive group of peers.

Since 2005, the CfR Texas program has held 36 retreats serving close to 500 women. The retreats are open to women statewide and are typically held near Dallas/Fort Worth and

Recent participants Photographer:

CfR Texas recently held its first retreat exclusively for women 40 and under. This young women’s retreat was held on a private ranch in Terrell, TX, about 35 miles east of Dallas. The schedule included lots of fly fishing activities (casting instruction, fly tying, knots participants of CfR’s first Young Women’s retreat in Texas

Photographer: Missy Sprouse and equipment, safe handling and releasing of fish), support from oncology medical and psychosocial facilitators, and of course time to bond with each other in a beautiful and relaxing environment.

On the final day of the retreat, each woman fished with her own guide on the property’s very well-stocked pond. Many sunfish, large mouth bass and striper were caught.

The impact of the retreat is best expressed by one of the participants: “Meeting local area survivors who were around my age, in varying phases of treatment was helpful to me as I’ve felt so alone in my battle with cancer.” www.castingforrecovery.org