Casting for Recovery

We provide life-changing retreats at no cost for MN women at any age & in any stage of breast cancer treatment or recovery.

Mission
The mission of Casting for Recovery is to enhance the lives of women with breast cancer by connecting them to each other and nature through the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. CfR retreats offer opportunities for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life and experience healing connections with other women and nature. The retreats are open to breast cancer survivors of all ages, in all stages of treatment and recovery, and are free to participants. 

Why fly fishing and breast cancer?
On a physical level, the gentle, rhythmic motion of fly casting is similar to exercises often prescribed after surgery or radiation to promote soft tissue stretching. On an emotional level, women are given the opportunity to experience a new activity in a safe environment amongst a supportive group of peers. The retreats provide resources to help address quality of life issues after a breast cancer diagnosis, and a new outlet – fly fishing – as a reprieve from the everyday stresses and challenges of their cancer.

History
Since 2008, the CfR Minnesota Program has provided retreats to local breast cancer survivors from all ethnic and economic backgrounds. Our retreats are offered free of charge, so funding is needed to cover the costs of food, lodging, supplies, and educational materials. Retreat participants are selected at random.

Casting for Recovery was founded in 1996 in Manchester, Vermont, by a breast cancer reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher. Casting for Recovery’s innovative program focuses on breast cancer survivorship and improving quality of life, and has garnered endorsements from medical and psychosocial experts. Awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1998, CfR has inspired international efforts in Canada, UK/Ireland and New Zealand. To date, CfR has conducted over 800 retreats, serving more than 10,500 women nationwide. Each year CfR serves nearly 700 women at approximately 55 retreats located across the US. 

Program Highlights
Casting for Recovery programs are offered completely free of charge for women of any age, in any stage of breast cancer treatment or recovery. We are committed to ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, and strive to reach women who might be particularly underserved for resources and support. Each 2.5 day retreat hosts 14 women, encouraging small group dynamics while maximizing educational and psychosocial benefits. Guided by trained facilitators, women may participate in counseling and medical sessions to help them explore their own recovery process. Participants receive one-on-one instruction in the basics of fly fishing, and enjoy this therapeutic activity in a healing, natural setting. 

• The two-and-a-half day retreats are 100% free for participants. 
• Retreats incorporate fly fishing instruction and medical education, ending with a half-day of guided catch-and-release fly fishing. 
• CfR is committed to ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural diversity. Participants range in age from 24 to 90! 
• At least one medical professional, one psychosocial counselor, and four fly fishing instructors trained specifically for Casting for Recovery volunteer at each retreat.
• The program is appropriate for women in all stages of treatment and recovery and various stages of physical and emotional adaptation to breast cancer. 
• Casting for Recovery is committed to natural resource conservation and environmental stewardship. Participants are educated on the importance of stream ecology and protecting the health of our fisheries. 

Outcomes and Measurement

Following participation in a CfR Minnesota retreat, we expect a significant percentage of participants to gain self-confidence, a larger support base, and experience a renewal of optimism and energy for dealing with their lives.  

We know our program works! Post-retreat evaluations show that after attending a Casting for Recovery retreat:

• 100% felt it was a worthwhile experience
• 99% would recommend the program to others
• 98% felt connected with other participants
• 95% gained a new support base with new friends
• 92% felt better able to cope with their situation
• 91% felt more aware and accepting of themselves
• 91% learned something new about living with breast cancer
  
  

   Short video: Breast cancer survivors discuss how participation in a CfR retreat has positively impacted their lives.