Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland has revealed its 2009 retreat schedule* and will be providing fly fishing retreats for women who have, or have had, breast cancer across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Casting for Recovery provides fly fishing programmes at idyllic retreats around the UK and Ireland. In 2009 it is set to deliver an ambitious programme, holding retreats in each of the home nations for the first time. 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. The retreats at Kimbridge on the Test, The Peacock at Rowsley and Heathcote Lakes at Warwick have been donated with only minimal costs applied. 

Appropriate clothing and fishing tackle is provided by Orvis UK.    

Fly fishing offers proven benefits for recovering breast cancer patients; gentle exercise is recommended by physiotherapists for joint and soft tissue mobility.  Fly fishing also offers participants 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 five retreats, has helped 60 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:  “2009 promises to be a Grand Slam year for Casting for Recovery, with retreats in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Although we have already held retreats in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, this coming year will see our first ever retreats in Scotland and in the Republic of Ireland.

The dedicated Casting for Recovery team is very much looking forward to bringing the programme’s special brand of therapy to some very brave and deserving ladies.

” 2009’s programme consists of retreats at: 

24 - 26 April - Valley Dam Fishery, Llanfihangel and Lake Vyrnwy Hotel, Llanwddyn, Powys

8-10 May -  Heathcote Lakes, Warwick and The Glebe Hotel, Barford, Warwickshire 

10- 12 June -  Mount Falcon, Ballina, Co Mayo

17 - 19 July - Kimbridge on the Test, Kimbridge, Hampshire

18- 20 September - Brookhall Trout Fishery, Lisburn, Co Antrim 

25 - 27 September - Forbes of Kingennie, Broughty Ferry, Angus4 - 6 October - The Haddon Estate and The Peacock Hotel, Rowsley, Derbyshire 

 CLICK HERE FOR THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM. Notice of application deadlines will appear in due course, but ladies will have plenty of time in which to apply. 

All media enquiries should be directed to the Countryside Alliance press office on 00 44 (0)207 840 9220, 0044 7775 938792 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it