Casting for Recovery fundraising success in Ireland

An elegant ladies' lunch and fashion show to raise much needed funds for Casting for Recovery UK and Ireland was held at the beautiful Mount Falcon Hotel near Ballina, County Mayo, on 5th October. The annual lunch, part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, sees ladies from the local area come to support The Countryside Alliance Foundation's worthy breast cancer charity at Mount Falcon, itself a long standing retreat venue for the charitable programme. Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland takes ladies who have been profoundly affected by breast cancer on all-expenses-paid residential retreats where counselling, medical advice and fly fishing form a unique itinerary specifically designed as a therapy for both body and mind.

At Mount Falcon were treated to a delicious lunch and fashion show with clothing from local boutique Kalora and models including former Casting for Recovery participants and staff from Mount Falcon. One of the highlights was a bespoke Mount Falcon fishing cake made by Lauren, local businesswoman and founder of Hummingbird Cakes. Thousands of Euros were raised for Casting for Recovery and, as its Director Jill Grieve told the ladies, every cent will be put towards 2017's retreat at Mount Falcon to enable us to help as many ladies as possible.

Our special thanks go to Valerie Wilson of Mount Falcon who has been organising this annual event for several years. Thanks also to Valerie's husband Jim who is the estate manager at Mount Falcon and always ensures there are plenty of fish for our ladies to catch on retreat!

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland is run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation with support from Orvis UK, who provide kit and clothing. The programme marries counselling, medical support and fly fishing for an unforgettable way for ladies to move forward from breast cancer. Places are open to any lady who has (or has had) breast cancer - they are allocated by ballot and are subject to medical clearance. All ladies need to do is get themselves to the venue and we take care of all meals, accommodation, counselling, medical support and fly fishing tuition.

We will announce the dates for 2017's retreat programme, including a weekend at Mount Falcon, shortly.