The Board of Trustees of Casting for Recovery is pleased to announce that the life-changing benefits of the CFR program will be coming to New Zealand!  A group of volunteers, led by Sherrie Feickert, Executive Director, CFR – New Zealand, is now up and running and planning to help women recovering from breast cancer to the benefits of the program.  Included in the “inaugural” New Zealand retreat team will be Peg Miskin, a CFR volunteer who is the Program Coordinator of the Northern California program; Sally Stoner, CFR volunteer, author, and casting coach; and Lynda Topp (also known as Ken, the Fly Fishing Farmer).

The Hon. John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand and Minister of Tourism, acknowledged the coming of the program to New Zealand with a letter of recognition.

Sherrie Feikert, Executive Director, stated:  “I am so delighted our Prime Minister has taken the time to see what CFR is all about and found it to be a worthwhile and most rewarding programme. As for myself as the NZ Executive Director; CFR is my epiphany – it has brought together two things I am passionate about namely fly-fishing and breast cancer. I have the utmost respect for women whom have had to or are dealing with the ravages of this disease and I always come away from my time with them having the feeling of  ‘being in the  presence of Angels’. Breast cancer in rife in New Zealand, and the incidence amongst our indigenous people the Maori is even higher. We also have a high incidence among out Pacific Islander nations. At present we have free screening every second year from 45 to 59 but we are aiming for it to be each year.”

The first Casting for Recovery New Zealand retreat is scheduled for February 12 – 14, 2010.  For more information contact CFR New Zealand.