“My daughter told me ‘black people don’t fly fish,’” says Carolyn Harvey, 60, of Largo, MD. “I proved her wrong.”

Carolyn was first intrigued by the idea of fly fishing when she saw a flyer in the elevator at the Washington Cancer Institute for a Casting for Recovery retreat. She’d never been the outdoorsy type, but saw an opportunity for a new adventure and applied.

Carolyn Harvey ties one on (credit: Thomas Graves)

Casting for Recovery, a non-profit that caters to women with breast cancer, organizes fly fishing retreats for breast cancer survivors to help them both mentally and physically in their healing process. Relying on the dedication of its staff, volunteers, and donations, the two-day fly fishing retreats are free—and priceless—for participants.

First as a participant and now as a devoted volunteer, Carolyn helps other women find hope and healing through fly fishing. A breast cancer survivor of 17 years, Carolyn was first diagnosed in 1992, when her doctor discovered a mass in her left breast. “I was shocked to no end,” she recalls. “During the time from the biopsy and seeing the doctor the next week, it never entered my mind that it would be malignant. I was 44 years-old.” After a partial mastectomy and six weeks of radiation, Carolyn has been cancer-free for 16 years.

Carolyn attended her first Casting for Recovery retreat in 2003. Far into her remission, she appreciated her ability to provide encouragement to some of the other women who were still undergoing, or not too far out of treatment. “It was a wonderful experience,” she says. “I got to meet an incredible bunch of women in the participants and staff. All of us were in different stages of treatment or survivorship. Putting on the waders and boots was an adventure in itself,” she laughs.

Carolyn was hooked. And it didn’t take long for her to realize she wanted to do more: more fly fishing as well as more for the organization. “The bonding with each other was remarkable,” she says. “The fishing was fun and I knew that I wanted to do more. The staff was full of wonderful women and they saw to our every need. I thought, ‘I’d like to be a part of this.’”

The Chesapeake Women Anglers generously gave each participant a free one-year membership to their group. Carolyn took advantage of this gift by attending some of their outings. And it wasn’t long before she got involved as a volunteer with Casting for Recovery as the Participant & Gift Bag Coordinator for the 2005 Maryland retreat. Currently, she’s serving her second year as Lead Coordinator for the Virginia retreat, held in May. Carolyn says having cancer has made her so much more aware, and in turn, involved. She not only volunteers with Casting for Recovery, but has also volunteered in several positions over the past 15 years with the American Cancer Society, and speaks on breast health awareness. This is all in addition to her full-time job. “I have to sometimes be reminded to slow down and take time for me,” she says.

Although she doesn’t get to fish as often as she’d like, Carolyn does spend some of her “me” time on the river. “Fly fishing is therapeutic because it doesn’t take brute strength,” she says, explaining the benefits of the sport. “The casting techniques are an extension of your arm and wrist, which is great for soft tissue mobility. Some of the scenery is breathtaking. It makes me appreciate all the more of what God can do.”

Carolyn shows off her casting skills (credit: Thomas Graves)

For Carolyn, it’s really about the tranquility and sereneness of it all. “Sometimes you don’t catch anything, you get a few nibbles. And some days you don’t even get a nibble. But just standing out there is so peaceful and relaxing.” However, she can’t deny the thrill of the catch. “Oh wow, it’s exciting!” she gushes. “You just want to yell and holler but you know you’re fishing so you can’t be yelling and screaming and jumping up and down.”

Still, Carolyn’s daughter wasn’t too far off the mark with her statement. That’s why Carolyn has made it her mission to get more women of color involved in Casting for Recovery. Through her efforts, a lot more African-American women have been applying to the program and she’s also working on getting the word out to the Hispanic community. “I’ve enjoyed being a part of CFR so much and I want others to experience that same joy.” •

Casting for Recovery Retreats

This year, 43 retreats in 28 states will help women in their bouts with breast cancer. The following retreats in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions are still accepting applications:

• North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
  Where: Lake Logan Center, Canton, NC
  When: August 14-16
  Application deadline: June 5
• Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware
  Where: Rising Phoenix Retreat Center, Flintstone, MD
  When: October 2-4
  Application deadline: July 24  

  For more info, visit castingforrecovery.org.