Unique breast cancer charity becomes part of The Countryside Alliance Foundation

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, the unique outdoor programme which combines counselling and medical support with fly fishing for ladies who have (or have had) breast cancer, has merged with The Countryside Alliance Foundation. Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland was founded eight years ago with the aim of providing free-of-charge retreats at beautiful locations for ladies profoundly affected by breast cancer. It will become a part of The Countryside Alliance Foundation, a charity which has complementary aims. This merger has taken place to ensure the long-term future of Casting for Recovery, which has been supported by the Countryside Alliance since its inception.

The Countryside Alliance Foundation runs a series of projects devoted to using the countryside as an educational and therapeutic resource and is therefore a good fit for Casting for Recovery. The Foundation's team of fundraisers and event organisers have now taken over the administration from its founding Executive Officers Sue Hunter and Sue Shaw, who ran the charity on a voluntary basis and are still very much in support of the project's aims. Casting for Recovery's Patrons, Clay and Sue Brendish, continue to support the project.

Barney White-Spunner, Director of The Countryside Alliance Foundation commented: "As founding backers of Casting for Recovery it is a natural step that it becomes a part of our stable and we are delighted to be ensuring its future. Over 30 retreats have been run across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and we will continue to visit the charity's favoured retreat venues whose staff have always demonstrated such empathy for Casting for Recovery's aims.

"I would like to thank founders Sue Hunter and Sue Shaw for their hard work and vision. They have nurtured this extremely special charity for more than eight years and believe passionately in its simple ethos of fishing, medical support and relaxation in our beautiful countryside. We share that spirit and are honoured to be continuing their work with a view to offering many more brave and deserving women the chance to experience Casting for Recovery's magic."

Sue Hunter, founder of Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland commented: "Since Casting for Recovery's inception I've had the privilege of meeting many brave women at retreats and from the feedback they've provided I have no doubt of the benefits that this programme can offer. I'm delighted to think that the extra resource that this merger will bring together with the continued support of our exceptional, dedicated volunteer base will result in many more women having the opportunity to enjoy the unique experience of a Casting for Recovery retreat."

Ends…

Notes
• Photos are available
• The next retreat will be held at Kimbridge on the Test in Hampshire in late July and the final one for 2015 will be held at Forbes of Kingennie in Angus in late September.
• Places at retreats are allocated by ballot and are subject to medical clearance.

The contact for the project is Jill Grieve on 0207 840 9223/ 07710 651641 or [email protected]

The dedicated website continues to be www.castingforrecovery.org.uk