Casting for Recovery recently teamed up with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) to hold a retreat exclusively for female disabled veterans and active duty military women who have had breast cancer.
Thirteen women, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, came together in West Virginia to support one another and experience the peace and serenity of fly fishing.
The retreat was held April 21-23, 2017 at Harman’s Log Cabins in West Virginia. The participants came from all over the U.S. and ranged in age from 36 to 66. Medical and psychosocial sessions supported women navigating issues related to their military and cancer experience, such as treatment options, side effects, PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and depression. Fly fishing served as an outlet for coping with the challenges of these topics, and provided a simple, authentic connection with nature.
This inaugural retreat was sponsored in part by BAE Systems, Harman’s Log Cabins, Fly Fisherman magazine, Yeti, Costa, and Cheeky Fishing.
“Learning from one another’s experiences, whether active duty or retired. Seeing the vulnerable side of my military sisters, which is very hard for many–we allowed ourselves to open up in a safe setting to receive the help we need.”
This retreat program is the first of its kind in the country, and Casting for Recovery hopes to expand offerings for military women with breast cancer in 2018.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
