Peace, solitude and the chance to be in the moment

The ‘Casting for Recovery’ programme was on over the weekend providing pampering, healing and therapy. The event has been running in New Zealand since 2012 and Owen River Lodge has been a key part of it since the beginning.
The mission of ‘Casting for Recovery’ (CFR) is to enhance participants quality of life through a unique retreat programme which allows people whose lives have been profoundly affected by breast cancer, to gather in a beautiful, natural setting and learn to fly fish. It offers the women an opportunity to experience the peace and solitude and the chance to be in the moment that fly fishing provides. The retreats are staffed by fly fishing instructors, specialist nurses and ‘Pink Ladies’, all trained volunteers, and all there to support and provide a weekend of fun, empowerment and achievement. A selection of participants is chosen through a random lottery of applicants.
For Felix Borenstein, owner of Owen River Lodge, the experience is a profound one. This is the sixth year he has hosted the event and it has been a deeply personal journey for him, after losing his dear friend Pauline Farrell to breast cancer 12 years ago. “The CFR retreat is the absolute highlight of my season, it fills my heart with joy and sets my spirits soaring.” Coordinator for CFR, Sally Robertson, says the ladies had a superb weekend at the lodge. Tania O’Donnell was super excited to be accepted this year, she had some idea of what to expect with the fly fishing, the lodge and it being a small group of people, but she was not expecting how pampered and comfortable they were going to feel. “All the spoiled-ness I wasn’t expecting. It was the little things; the gifts, having our bags carried inside, having the bed turned down. I am a very self-sufficient, independent, strong person so that was quite nice. I wasn’t expecting that. So that was amazing.”
The programme is non-profit and offered at no cost to the participants. CFR relies on the generosity of individuals, grants, companies and organisations. For information on how you can help or if you have an interest in making an application, contact Sally Robertson sally@castingforrecovery.org.nz