Cancer women fall hook, line and sinker for fishing
TWELVE women who were diagnosed with breast cancer have gone fly fishing.
But it wasn’t just some spur of the moment thing.
They were there thanks to Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, a charitable project run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation.
The charity specialises in bringing breast cancer sufferers together through fly-fishing – because of the benefits the movements involved are thought to bring to former and current patients.
The all-expenses-paid retreats last two days. Anyone who has, or has had, breast cancer, is eligible to apply, subject to receiving medical clearance.
Eleri Evans from Bancffosfelin, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2016. She was one of the women who attended the retreat at Garnffrwd Fishery and Best Western in Llanelli last weekend.
She said: “I was 41 when I found a lump. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer it was a shock to everyone because of my age.
“My daughter works with women who are diagnosed with breast can- cer, but she didn’t expect it to happen to her mum.
“It’s still a struggle but I have gone back to working full time now, getting the all-clear was such a relief.
“The team at the Prince Philip Hospital were amazing.
“My husband was really emotional when I had the all-clear. He had to be really strong for our three children through the process.”
The 43-year-old has urged women of all ages to check their breasts.
“The weekend was so much fun, I never knew that fly-fishing benefits those who have/had breast cancer.
“I had an amazing weekend, flyfishing is something that I didn’t think that I would ever enjoy. My friend’s husband saw the weekend advertised in a magazine and suggested that me and my friend went along, as we both had surgery on the same day,” she said.
Sue Shaw, retreat coordinator, said: “Retreats are delivered by professionals including counsellors, oncology nurses and qualified flyfishing instructors and guides.
“The women had a great time and everyone got on so well.”