Going the Distance for Casting for Recovery

About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime; this is a startling statistic. Last year I found a way to help women dealing with breast cancer as a volunteer for the Casting for Recovery (CFR) retreat in my home state of Oregon. CFR is a national non-profit support and educational program for women of all ages and in all stages of breast cancer. It provides retreats at no cost to participants, which allow women whose lives have been profoundly affected by breast cancer to gather in a beautiful, natural setting and learn to fly fish.

At the retreat I witnessed a program that brought hope, gratitude, peace, inspiration, encouragement, and strength to women recovering from breast cancer.  I walked away inspired and fired up to once again use my spey casting skills to raise money for Casting for Recovery and team up with past Spey-O-Rama champion,Whitney Gould .

At the SOR finals, a wind advisor was in effect that day. Gust of 20-35 WNW winds made it far from ideal conditions. Swirling, blustery weather would blow a cast 20 feet back and slam the line on the water. With just 6 minutes to complete 12 casts, it was challenging to have the patience and wait for the “right wind.” It was one of the most interesting competitions to watch.  Despite gusty conditions, both the men and woman made some big cast. Whitney and my combined distance was 265 feet. Based on that, with your pledges we raised over $7000.00 for the CFR Nor Cal and Northern Oregon Retreats. 

 I would like to thank all you that contributed and made this possible. 

   

Simms, Echo, Gary Anderson Custom Rod, Nautilus Reel, Boggs Trail Butter,  Owl Creek Flies , Sage Products  Little Creek Outfitters , Royal Treatment Fly Shop, Fanny Krieger, Judith O'keefe, Rebecca Blair,  The Drake , Gink and Gasoline , Deneki , Roger Grummel, Cynthia Ervin, Eunice Higgens, Chris Deleone, George Olmsted, Stephanie Gould, Blue Ribbon Sales, Mark Seligman, Dylan Rose, Doug Morgan, Judith Brown, Paul Ridgway, Mary and Jim Bast, Glen Foster, Nanaette Rich, Paul Nicodemus, Karen Gould, Richard Harrington, Jeff Howard, Genevieve Long, Douglas Jett, Mike Williams, Darryl Gould, Linda Slater, Andrea Warner, Swing the Fly, Anne Vitale, Rob Perkins, Nick English, Catherine Slaugh, Phil Renner, Sharon Gould, Mark Huber, Cheryl Bell, Scott Humphrey, Suzanne Gulick, Steve Egge, Rob Sims, Clay Krull, James Reid, Lee Lashway, Ram Reagan, Rob Stuart, Kate Taylor, Hal Leavell, Poppy Cummins, Lindsay Vincent, Kristen Kinsman, Summer Run Guide Service, Carla  Lessard, William Swindell, Raging River Sales, Saracione, David Beaudry, Glen McCormick , James Reid, Gene Weber ,Ian Reeves and Robin Wright, Denise Bulwinkel ,Diane Moreel ,Sandi Kushnei ,Joanne Winship

Congrats to Steve Egge who won the fishing trip and Andrea Warner who won the casting lesson.

The raffle items went to:

Simms Backpack - Anne Vitale

Sage Rod - Carla Lessard

Nautilus Reel - Mark Huber

Echo Rod - Mike Williams

Gary Anderson Rod - Glenn Foster

Boggs Trail Butter – Summer Run Guide Service

Owl Creek Flies -  Glen

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month,  Find out how Casting For Recovery helps women recover and find hope and how Simms Fishing Products is bringing awareness in October and you can support that effort. 

My grandmother had breast cancer, a good friend lost her life to cancer 5 years ago after numerous treatments and my mother at the age of 60, pasted away from pancreatic cancer 10 years.  Its heartbreaking to see women I love, loss their life's at such as early age. 

Cancer is a disease that can't be ignored.  Casting for Recovery is a non profit that provides hope, at no cost retreat to participants, which allow women whose lives have been profoundly affected by breast cancer to gather in a beautiful, natural setting and learn to fly fish. The retreats incorporate counseling, educational services and the sport of fly fishing to promote mental and physical healing. CFR currently has 45 retreats in 35 states scheduled for 2011.

Each Casting for Recovery retreat accommodates 14 women, who apply and are selected through a random lottery, and immerses them in the world of fly fishing for two-and-a-half days.

Volunteers share their love of the sport by teaching participants casting, tie the basic knots and all about the bugs . . . “What Fish Eat”. They attend a medical session to learn about and share the latest medical treatments available. Participants also attend an evening gathering to share their emotions and feelings about breast cancer with an experienced Psychosocial Facilitator. On the last day of the retreat, the women are in the water practicing catch and release fishing assisted by CFR staff and men and women “riverhelpers” from local fly fishing clubs. Many of the participants have never picked up a rod in their life but go on to become active in the sport or become volunteers for the Casting for Recovery program.


Ways you can support CFR. Support your local retreat  

Purchase one of these Simms products

Volunteer at CFR

SOR and Casting for Recovery Update

Teresa, Me and Rebecca

Wonderful time at SOR this year, with great food and spirits, super company and amazing casting from the men and women, it’s impressive to see records being broken (Travis Johnson making a 198 foot cast) and the women making cast over 140.  The limits keep getting pushed, the casters keep progressing and new competitors enter each year .

Happy to raise funds again for the Northern California and Northern Oregon CFR retreats based on my longest cast.  (Made a 142 and still have the current record for longest cast!)  Congrats to all the women for kicking ass this year!

Caster	Left side		Right side
	Left Snake	Left Single	Right Snake	Right Single	Total	Longest
Whitney Gould	129	132	138	135	534	138
Mia Sheppard	130	142	124	129	525	142
Marcy Stone	116	123	132	130	501	132
Kara Knight	116	105	117	135	473	135
Donna O’Sullivan	122	110	109	128	469	128
Adrienne Comeau	111	111	110	125	457	125

Much gratitude for all the support and a big thanks to Rebecca Blair, Teresa LaBlanc for keeping me on track. GaryAnderson , Joe and Deloris Saracione and Simon Heish (Nextcast Products)  and Simms Fishing and Costa Sunglasses for the awesome gear, Franny Krieger for the hosting Tegan and I (Tegan really enjoyed her time with you) Travis Johnson for always talking me into competing and big hugs to Marty for putting up with me.   Special thanks to all that donated: Whitney Gould (Congrats on 1^st!) Doug Morgan, Rebecca Blair, Will Johnson, Chris Wilson, Scott Humphreys, Bill Swindell, Judith O’keeph, Tim Purvis, Emily Untalan, Henry Carlile, Ken Johnson, Larry Lessard, Jeffery Howard, Doug Morgan, Doug Ballinger, Paul Ridgeway, Eric Adema, Mark Heath, Anne Vitalie, Steve Egge, Teresa LeBlanc, Larry Friedman, Debbie Mathis, Joann Martinez, Paul Gatti,  August Abellar, Anthony Conte, Ingrid Medina, Steve Gomes, Marke Estis, Byron Jones, Kenji Muro, Fanny Krieger, Ken Morando, and many more that signed up at the ponds, sorry I don't have everyones names at this moment.  

My longest cast was 142 and Doug Morgan was the closest guessed 144.5, call me, let’s get a date on the calendar!   Mark Heath wins the Gary Anderson rod.  

Casting For Recovery

Update April 12th- Gary Anderson just donated a 6126 double hand rod. Make a donation and have a chance at winning this rod!

Spey-O-Rama is right around the corner and yes, I’m participating again, Marty thinks I’m nuts but I love it!  On April 11-13 you will have the opportunity to watch some world class spey casters compete at the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club ponds-- and to help raise money for a wonderful cause – Casting for Recovery CFR.    Once again, and as part of that effort, I will be sponsoring a CFR pledge drive.  

Casting for Recovery is a national non-profit support and educational program for women of all ages and in all stages of breast cancer. The funds raised this year  will directly benefit CFR retreat participants in Northern Oregon and Northern California.  For more information on CFR, please refer to the website.

To make a donation, please click on the following link to download a form.   : http://form.jotform.com/form/10195517743

This year, make a donation and take a guess at the distance of my longest cast and win a guided trip on the Sandy River. If there are more than two people that get it right then the names will go in a hat.  Write  what you think will be my longest cast in the comment box on the form.   

NW Fly Tyer & Fly Fishing Show This Weekend

One of the biggest fly- fishing events in the Pacific Northwest. Learn from 194 tyers, casting clinics, fishing presentations and fun learning venue for kids .

Marty and I will be tending a booth for The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and giving a couple presentations. Please stop by and say hello. 

Presentations on Friday we are giving:

9:00-10:30  - Steelhead Fishing the John Day River and other Oregon Rivers (classroom 3) sign up at the expo center

10:45 to 12:15 find out “Why Public Lands are Important for Sportsmen" and what The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is doing to conserve these special places while working to protect access for hunters and fisherman. - (Classroom 1)

The Gift of Giving

photo by Andy Wood

Everyone has the gift to give back. This year my chance was under sunny skies and a calm morning, the flags lining the ponds didn't flinch, ideally, it was a perfect morning to cast. I drew the number four stick and hoped a little breeze would pick up before I stepped into the ponds. Nothing beats a tail wind however the breeze didn't pick up till later that morning. This year my goal at Spey-O-Rama was to cast to my potential and make a long cast for Casting for Recovery and Casting 4A Cure.  I was in the zone and the fly went on top of the wall three times, hitting 144. This was the third year too have raised awareness and money for a non-profit at SOR and I'm honored to do so, giving is not an obligation but an opportunity to give someone a chance. 

I'm grateful for all the support and donations that came in this year. Thank you to: William, Bryan, Terri, Kathleen, Ken, Tim, Jim, Larry, Rob, Paul, Jill, Carolyn, Kevin, Joel & Kellie, Dorothy, Doug & Katy, Eric, Glen, Jan, Steve, Christopher, Bill, Anne, Jeff, Poppy & Linda, Amanda, Ian, Mary, Mark, and Victor

The donations raised for CRF and Casting4ACure are being made in honor of Emilee Cummins, Wheeler who has Retts Syndrome. Emilee is Poppy and Linda's granddaughter from The Redshed Fly Shop .Rett Syndrome is a neurodevelopment disorder found almost exclusively in young girls.The symptoms are almost always apparent by age 2 and are similar to Cerebral Palsy. Researchers have yet to discover the exact gene responsible for Rett Syndrome. Casting4A Cure raises money for research. 

Thank you Simms for donating a fly box and sweatshirt to give away to two donors.  Tim K. will receive the fly box and Steve E. will receive the sweatshirt.

Casting For 2 Great Causes

Join me in supporting 2 great causes. 

Heading to Spey -O-Rama on April 21st, to cast and raise awareness for the Nor Cal Casting for Recovery Retreat. Also for Casting 4ACure. for our friend Emilee Cummins, Wheeler who has Retts Syndrome. Emilee is Poppy and Linda's granddaughter from The Redshed Fly Shop .Rett Syndrome is a neurodevelopment disorder found almost exclusively in young girls.The symptoms are almost always apparent by age 2 and are similar to Cerebral Palsy. Researchers have yet to discover the exact gene responsible for Rett Syndrome. Casting4A Cure raises money for research. In other words, my cast and your donation can truly help find the cure!

  

Casting4ACure raises critical funds for research and to support families affected by 

Rett Syndrome . Casting For Recovery is a program that combines counseling, medical information, and the therapeutic sport of fly-fishing. Both non profits are a 501(c)(3). 

  

Donations can be made by filling out the form in this link.

Folks that make a donation will have a chance at winning a Simms sweatshirt,fly box and Casting4A Cure swag!

100% of the donations will be split 50/50 between the Nor CAL CFR Retreat and Casting4ACure. Thank you for making this happen. 

 If you have any questions please give me a call at: 541-419-2105

  

Thanks and Tight Lines!

Distance Casting and Giving A Little

Spey-O_Rama is right around the corner and I ask myself, why am I doing this?

Knut puts a smile on everyones faces.

This will be my fourth year heading to San Francisco for the distance casting championships. I gotta say, it's a great time to get away from the Pacific Northwest. When I look out my window and see snow on the ground and I'm still wearing beanies and boots; sunshine, 60 degree days, and taking beach walks every morning sounds right up my ally. This is also a great time to visit my sister and see friends from my past, but it's more then just that, SOR is a down right fun event. Time spent at the ponds is a hoot! The compradary of the old timers sitting in the club house tying flies, to watching guys like, Knut Syrstad, Tommy Aarkvisla, Brian Stykal, the Carron team and many others making consistent cast over 150 feet, or the afternoon tea time with strawberries and Devon Cream or the scotch at the end of the day, are all more reasons to keep coming back.  

James Chalmer casting in the big pond.

Spey-O-Rama has turned into quite an event, every year the casters get better. The time commitment the competitors are putting into SOR, one  would think it was the Olympics; practicing for hours, giving up fishing time, tweaking their lines constantly, trying different rods, trying to get that extra 5 feet of distance, I gotta admit, I've turned into a casting geek!

Casting Geeks!

Last year I competed in SOR with the intention to raise money for Casting for Recovery and with all the generous donations over $4000.00 was raised. This year Marcy Stone will be competing for the first time, and we are going the distance at Spey -O-Rama again to raise awareness for Casting for Recovery via

a pledge drive based on our longest cast. Casting for Recovery's program combines counseling,medical information, and the therapeutic sport of fly-fishing. CFR's two-and-a-half day retreats are offered at no cost to women at any age and stage of breast cancer treatment and recovery. CFR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. In 2012, CFR is holding 45 retreats in 33 states. 

Through the link below you can make a pledge based on Marcy's or my longest cast or both of our cast at; CFR - Spey-O-Rama 2012 Pledge  

  

If you would like to give a straight donation then you can click on this link.   CFR -  Spey-O-Rama 2012 Pledge 

 If you have any questions please give me a call at: 503-944-9165


Thanks For your Support!

Kiss the Fish and Let it Go

I asked Marty's mom to write a "short" story about her experience at a Casting for Recovery Retreat, well the story was to good to edit down, enjoy the read!

With our construction business reeling in the economic downturn, health insurance was one of those financial causalities that fell by the way side. Looming over me was the knowledge that I needed medical care for diabetes and lupus. I’ve never concerned myself about cancer because in my mind, I already had my share of illnesses. When the Wallace Concern and Project Access Now, picked me up as one of their clients, I was assigned to a wonderful caring doctor who not only got the existing disorders managed, but began some of those routine tests that had been put off. Of course one was the dreaded mammogram.

When the technician and a doctor returned to the little room where I sat uncomfortably in a paper thin gown, they began to utter words in the Charlie Brown teacher-speak. “Wawawawawa” As soon as I heard the words “we won’t call it cancer until we’ve done the biopsy” I was truly alone even though they were still in the room. Had they not given me a note as to where and when to go the next day for the biopsy, I don’t think I could have snapped out of that robotic daze..

The biopsy day was a blur, but the next few days seemed like time stood still. The waiting for “the phone call” was un-distractable. I think for those three days, I measured time with each beat of my heart. I prayed, pondered and prepared myself. It came, and once again the reality of being alone hit.
Then the appointments, the surgeon and ultimately surgery with the end result being, “We got it all.” Good. With a five year plan for treatment, the numb shock of what I was battling was not going to define me. However, the reality of loss (our business, our finances, my health) caused adjustments, but as long as I’m going to have these things in my life, it might as well be fun. It was up to me to define that!

One of those fun spots – without any adjustment at all was to thoroughly enjoy my family. My hero husband, Glenn, our son, Marty, his wife, Mia, our granddaughter, Tegan, our daughter, Melissa, her husband, Lance, and grandkids, Dillon and Megan, were essential in my new focus of fun!

Simultaneously with the diagnosis of breast cancer, Mia was participating in her annual casting “thingie” in San Francisco. She had planned a fundraiser for an organization called “Casting for Recovery” where folks would donate dollars based upon the distance of her cast. “Nice,” I thought in myself in a pity party style. I’m not able to participate in the donation realm, can’t go to San Francisco to watch, and Tegan was going with her so I wasn’t even going to grandma sit. As far as their lifestyle of spey rod fly fishing and their business, Little Creek Outfitters, I enjoy their stories, pictures, and occasionally ate fish or two, but as for really understanding their experience on the river or the precious people she networks with I was clueless.

Mia suggested I toss my name into the Casting for Recovery lottery, I qualified, so why not? Other than holding a rod for loading into a rig, I’d never thought of fly fishing. It might just be fun! That fits my criteria for my personal cancer recovery, so, on a whim, I applied.
The time just flew and I continued with adventures in fun by increasing my ministry as Chaplain at Cascadia Village Retirement and Assisted Living Center in Sandy. An e-mail came that informed me I wasn’t selected, however, I was selected for a wait list in case someone selected was unable to attend. That was ok. I kind of wrote off the experience until one day, Lisa from Casting for Recovery called to say I was going fishing!

Out of my box, into what my kids do, off I went to an unknown location, with unknown people, doing activities unknown to me, I was facing another experience of walking the unknown alone. Once I walked into the lodge, all of that unknown and aloneness vanished into welcoming, encouraging and adventuresome relationships. Overwhelmed with smiles and warmth the reception of kindness was embracing.

The focus was on fishing – not on cancer.

The goal was the ultimate high of “fish-on”. However, the goal wasn’t the focus – fishing was! Nobody said it was catching! It was the distraction of all the encumbrances of fishing: The rod, the reel, the line, the knots, the flies, the fashion (waders, boots and vests), the accessories like special juice to make your fly float, the pinchers that clip on a vest pocket, the box of flies, the retractable snipers, all attached to this body that fully dressed could only waddle!

It was learning and laughing with hands on practice. The fishing technique of the roll cast had me hooked. Over and over again without a fly, we practiced in the pond anticipating the graduation to a fly and the real deal. Sunday morning was the culmination of all our anticipation. The fashion and its accessories were now just normal, it was the read of the pond, the movement of the fish, the right fly, the touch of the line, the feel of a tug – and the silence that accompanies alone.

And there it was, full circle! I was alone, yes. Just like I was alone with the diagnosis of breast cancer in spite of skilled professionals tending to me, I was alone fly fishing with skilled professionals tending to me. I was out of the element of my world and truly enjoying the element of my family. I was freely casting my cares into the pond of unfamiliar and gently pulling in the desired result – fun. Over and over again, I was doing the dance of the cast of line laying it down upon the top of the water in the beauty of presentation. Gentle and determined with swift, short pulls of the line with each I imagined the investigation of a curious fish, hoping for a nibble. This is very fun!

Then there it was, the tug. Fish on! There was coaching all around, shouts of “give it line”, and “hold up the rod” and “reel”. Yes the coaches were there, but it really was just the fish and me. I wanted to see this elusive underwater being. Holding the rod, feeling the movement, I was in sync with the ebb and flow of the movement. It was me and the fish – it was me and cancer. I was going to land this – I’m going to beat this! Reality once again flashed back and my coach was scooping into the net the reality of the result and there it was – face to face with my conquest! I did it! I caught a fish! I’m a fly fisherwoman! I can do this! I can beat cancer! I’m victorious – equipped for whatever comes my way. Thank you! You have made this journey fun! Face to facing the imagined. Kiss the fish and let it go, knowing I’ve faced cancer – looked it in the eye and with an appreciative respect for the lessons learned, kiss it good bye and let it go. Brings new meaning to Catch and Release!

Photos by Judith O'Keefe

Read Judith's experience at the Filson Blog

Support CFR!

Thank you to all the volunteers, your dedication makes a difference!

Casting for Recovery Pledge Drive

I would like to thank everyone that has donated so far. I'm very close to meeting my goal of raising $5000.00 for Casting for Recovery.

In the spirit of having fun at competitions, good sportsmanship, and having another purpose at Spey-O-Rama this year, I'm raising money and awareness via a pledge drive for Casting For Recovery. Casting for Recovery (CFR) is a national non-profit support and educational program for women of all ages, in all stages of breast cancer, helping woman find strength and courage through flying-fishing, as a tool for recovery.

CFR provides retreats at no cost to participants, which allow women whose lives have been profoundly affected by breast cancer to gather in a beautiful, natural setting and learn to fly fish. The retreats incorporate counseling, educational services and the sport of fly fishing to promote mental and physical healing. CFR currently has 45 retreats in 35 states scheduled for 2011.

On April 17th, 2011, I will be casting at the event Spey-O-Rama, in San Fransisco. Spey-O-Rama is a distance casting event with a double handed rod. Donations are based on my longest cast, per foot. For example, if my longest cast is 125 feet and you donate $1.00 then you will write a check to CFR for $125.00. (last year my longest cast was 127 feet) 100% of donations go to CFR. Please help by spreading the word and donating any amount you can give.

Click on the link below to complete the pledge drive form, after completing, click the submit button at the bottom of the form. Casting results will be announced on April 17th, 2011. I will contact you shorty after that date.

http://www.jotform.com/form/10195517743

Below is more information about Casting for Recovery.

Each Casting for Recovery retreat accommodates 14 women, who apply and are selected through a random lottery, and immerses them in the world of fly fishing for two-and-a-half days. They learn to cast, tie the basic knots and all about the bugs . . . “What Fish Eat”. They attend a medical session to learn about and share the latest medical treatments available. Participants also attend an evening gathering to share their emotions and feelings about breast cancer with an experienced Psychosocial Facilitator. On the last day of the retreat, the women are in the water practicing catch and release fishing assisted by CFR staff and men and women “riverhelpers” from local fly fishing clubs. Many of the participants have never picked up a rod in their life but go on to become active in the sport or become volunteers for the Casting for Recovery program.

Retreats are staffed by trained women volunteers. There are fly fishing instructors, as well as professional medical and psychosocial volunteers who provide education and support at the retreat. Participants need only to get to the retreat locations. Once there, they are outfitted with fly fishing gear from head to toe which they use while at the retreat.

Keep updated on Spey-O-Rama here, at Metalheads . Results will be posted on April 17, 2011.

Thank you for supporting CFR!

Mia Sheppard

Little Creek Outfitters

503-944-9165

photos courtesy of Casting for Recovery