Casting for Hope

Retreats: weekend respites for gynecological cancer patients and their caregivers. Fellowship amid presentations. Talks on cancer and health-related topics. Casting and fly-fishing participation. Fly-tying demonstrations. Retreats offered at no cost to participants. Casting for Hope organizes weekend retreats for up to fourteen gynecological cancer patients/survivors and their caregivers at the retreat center. Guests bond over the two-day period through shared experiences and personal stories. Professionals in the fields of oncology, survivorship, health and well-being, and other related topics present practical information. Fly-tying and Casting are demonstrated by expert anglers and fly-fishing participation is encouraged. The primary goal is to give participants a break from clinical settings. for a shorter get-away period, day retreats and one-night stays may be scheduled for an individual and her caregiver(s). Day retreats are also open to cancer support groups. Casting for Hope's team goal is to increase the number of day and one-night stay retreats. Casting for Hope directors think the isolation required of all of us during the 2020-2021 pandemic may be both familiar to those who are undergoing or have gone through cancer treatment but we also know it is quite unsettling. Believing it would be beneficial for patients to get out of a clinical setting and/or an isolated home environment, the team did offer a 2021 fall retreat to a limited number of patients and their caregivers.

Education: distribution of ovarian and gynecological cancer literature, attendance at health fairs and community events, cancer awareness presentations. Ovarian cancer has no specific signs, no effective screening tests, and no preventive methods. for public education and awareness, Casting for Hope has created a "bookmark" - a handout listing persistent symptoms and risk factors. These bookmarks and other cancer-related materials are distributed to women's health facilities, passed out at health fairs, and offered to community groups. Our directors initiate and are invited to give organizational and cancer awareness presentations at health fairs, to support groups, in medical practices, to the wnc cancer consortium, and to interested parties.

Client benefits: money paid directly to doctors' offices, hospitals, treatment centers, pharmacies, and other medical facilities for patient care. Payments distributed for utilities and other services, gasoline gift cards, dietary essentials, insurance premiums and other needs. A patient may ask for assistance with situationally-specific needs and may be awarded aid at the executive director's discretion. To date, over 288 patients have received financial assistance and encouragement.