For the last few years the Federation of Fly Fishers -South Eastern Council (FFF-SEC) has provided financial grants to Casting for Recovery (CFR) Retreats in North Carolina and this year in Tennessee. At the 2010 FFF-SEC Conclave, Lindsay Long, coordinator for CFR, East Tennessee, gave an inspirational presentation about the East Tennessee Program to our FFF-SEC SEC Board of Directors. She later invited me to be a river helper at the 2011 Gatlinburg, East Tennessee CFR retreat so I could get firsthand experience for what CFR is all about.
From my experience at the CFR retreat on April 10th I can report that the FFF-SEC dollars donated to the CFR are very well invested. By providing our financial, moral and hands-on support we have helped to positively change and enrich many ladies lives through CFR.
What I experienced during my short time with CFR was a blessing to me. I left the retreat feeling that I had received much more than I had given for the few hours I served as a river helper for a beautifully spirited lady by the name of Gwen Lane.
Gwen Lane Shows a Beautiful Smile on the River
The fishing day started quickly and very well organized. The river helpers met their lady fishermen at 8:30 AM after a huge breakfast provided by the CFR volunteer staff. We were paired up and assigned beats on the river which had been stocked with trout. After a quick photo shoot we were taken to our beat and fishing by 9:00AM. Gwen caught 4 trout during our time together and she was ecstatic about each one she hooked. Her smile lit up her face (and my heart) as she cast, hooked and landed her trout. Gwen was simply a delightful person to spend time on the river with.
What I observed from the ladies (and fellow river helpers), up and downstream from Gwen and me, were a lot of smiles, laughter, and some loud whoops when fish were caught.
After the fishing ended at 11:40AM we all met back at The Lodge at Buckberry Creek for the graduation luncheon. The food for the banquet was absolutely delicious. Each river helper sat next to their lady fishermen during the festivities. During that time I observed a lot of laughter, smiles, hugs and a few happy tears. In fact, every lady I met had a beautiful smile and a wonderful glow about them that permeated to the heart of everyone around them. The gratitude they expressed, both verbally and in their hugs, was more than enough pay for the river guides and other volunteers. As an uninformed observer you would never have guessed that several of these women were in a fight for their lives against breast cancer.
Anthony in his boa and tiara - what fun!
The best way I can describe the CFR retreat is a CELEBRATION. It was a celebration of fly fishing, of good food, of fellowship, of friends, of healing (spirit and body). It was a celebration of what one could do, and not at all concerned with what one couldn't do. Most of all it was a celebration of life and the wonderful blessings that God gives us through his beautiful outdoors and fellowship with others. Serving as a river helper for CFR is one of the most gratifying, humbling and inspiring events I have ever been a part of. What a blessing to be a small part of something so life changing for so many women, their families and their river helpers.
I copied the following statement from the CFR web site (http://castingforrecovery.org/about) "W e provide an opportunity for women whose lives have been profoundly affected by the disease of breast cancer to gather in a natural setting and learn the sport of fly fishing. Just as importantly, the retreats offer an opportunity to meet new friends, network, exchange information, and have fun." I can report that CFR does all that and much more.
In Luke 6:38 Jesus states "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over". As a river guide for a beautiful lady by the name of Gwen Lane, I gave a just a little bit of my time and fly fishing talent. The blessings I received in return for my feeble gift runneth over and will forever be a treasure in my life's memory chest.
