This autumn, Tennants is delighted to be supporting a timed online charity auction in aid of Reel Recovery UK, a registered charity providing free fly-fishing retreats for men with cancer. The sale will be open for bidding from 2nd-16th October, and the generously donated lots include fly-fishing gear, tuition by leading instructors and fishing experiences on some of the finest waters in the country.
News & Insights
Reel Recovery Charity Auction
ABOUT THE CHARITY
The mission of Reel Recovery is to help men cope with the impact of cancer by introducing them to the beneficial effects of fly-fishing, while providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences of cancer with others who share their stories.
Each participant has their own, individual instructor for the weekend. These ‘Fishing Buddies’ are not only fishing mentors, but also their friend on the water, someone to help, listen to, and support them. Often, these friendships last long after the weekend is over and enable participants to take up fly-fishing as a lifelong pursuit. Our Fishing Buddies are all volunteers, all are highly experienced and several are qualified members of The Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors.
The second element of our weekend program is a series of five, professionally facilitated group conversations. These conversations typically last just over an hour and take place in a safe, comfortable and reflective environment. The participants can discuss their cancer experience (in some cases for the very first time) with men who understand what they are going through. It is a non-judgmental source of support and encouragement to help improve their psychological wellbeing as they reflect on the impact cancer has had on their lives.
The third element is the ongoing mutual support that participants typically give each other after the retreat is over. Most participants form their own WhatsApp groups to stay in touch with each other and in some cases organise more fishing trips together.
Reel Recovery UK provides accommodation, meals, activities, instruction and equipment at no cost to the participants and all our staff are volunteers. We host 12 men with cancer on each weekend retreat, and we need to raise funds of £500 per man. 100% of funds raised in the UK provide UK-based retreats for UK citizens.
We take men with any form of cancer at any stage, from those who have just been diagnosed and yet to start treatment, to others with stage 4 cancers in palliative care. Participants are referred to us by local NHS Trusts and cancer support groups. Here is the professional assessment of what we do from Jenny Johns: Lead Clinical Psychologist, Northumbria Cancer Psychology Service:
“The fishing retreats provide a range of benefits in relation to psychological wellbeing. The activity of fishing provides opportunities for mindfulness practice and connection to nature, both of which have demonstrable benefits on mental wellbeing. There are opportunities for learning and skill acquisition which can again improve mood. There are opportunities for shared reflection and social connection, which is especially important for men, who might struggle to access formal psychological therapy, but feel more psychologically safe reflecting and sharing with peers in a safe, non-clinical environment. The fishing retreats are a wonderful resource for our patients to access, and I hope the charity continues to grow and flourish.”
COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS
“I discovered that while fly-fishing I was in another place. In this place there was no cancer, no pain and no fear”.
“When I was diagnosed with cancer and throughout my treatment, my family and friends were very supportive, but I still felt very alone. The weekend retreat with Reel Recovery UK was the first time I felt others understood how I was feeling. I haven't felt alone since that weekend”.
“You have given us all a future that has more than cancer in it. I am lost for words”.
Reel Recovery UK is a registered charity (1217413)
