Casting for Recovery holds its first retreat in East Sussex

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, the medical fly fishing programme for ladies who have, or have had breast cancer, held its first ever retreat at Brick Farm Lakes and the Cooden Beach Hotel at Bexhill in East Sussex last weekend (15th-17th June).

Twelve ladies travelled from across the country to attended the retreat and Annie Latter from Brick Farm Lakes made everyone feel extremely welcome. The Cooden Beach Hotel was on the sea front which meant many of the ladies could enjoy therapeutic walks along the coastline.

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland is run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF), the charity set up to increase access to the countryside and to use it for education, fun and therapy. It works on the simple truth that fly fishing is wonderful therapy for those recovering from breast cancer.

The programme takes ladies on a two day residential retreat where fly fishing tuition is part of a packed itinerary that also includes counselling, relaxation and medical advice. The residential retreat offers therapy for both body and mind with the medical and counselling aspects complimenting the gentle physical therapy of the fly casting motion.

We are extremely grateful to the fly fishing and medical volunteers who take time to ensure that the ladies all enjoy their weekend. We would also like to thank Brick Farm Lakes and the Cooden Beach Hotel for their fantastic hospitality throughout the weekend, they truly went above and beyond to make sure the ladies had the best weekend. But most of all we are grateful to the ladies for choosing to take the chance and apply for the programme. We hope they all enjoyed it!

Annie Latter, who runs Brick Farm Lakes said: "I did just want to say how very much I enjoyed this past weekend! What a wonderful experience and thank you so very much for choosing Brick Farm Lakes as part of this Retreat. I absolutely loved the whole experience!"

Casting for Recovery's Sue Shaw commented: "This wonderful group of magical ladies had a smashing time and an unforgettable weekend. Great friendships were formed over the weekend and the ladies are already arranging a reunion.

"After the stress of diagnosis and the grind of treatment, we feel privileged and humbled to be able to offer ladies a weekend that is just for them, surrounded by supportive people who know exactly how they are feeling."