Fishing retreat 'helps men with cancer to open up'

The retreat held near Dereham, in Norfolk, will teach 12 men living with cancer how to fly-fish

A group which aims to help men with cancer by teaching them fly-fishing is hosting its second weekend retreat in the UK.

Reel Recovery started in the US in 2003 and says it has helped more than 4,700 men living with cancer.

This weekend's event near Dereham, in Norfolk, will teach 12 men how to fly-fish while prompting conversations and offering a space for sharing their experiences of the disease.

The organiser, Michael Sayers, said men were "notoriously bad" at talking about health and emotions and the fishing trip "really helps them to open up and think about how cancer has affected their lives and relationships and how they view their future".

The retreat is free to participants and provides meals and accommodation at the location in North Elmham.

"Fly-fishing is basically like meditation in motion," said Mr Sayers.

"You're out there and you're literally immersed in nature or immersed in a river and you have the sound of the water flowing by and rustling the trees, no wifi, no interruptions and it's a simple, mindful, rhythmic act of casting a fly line."

Reel Recovery ran its first retreat in the UK in Northumberland last year and it has worked with the Big C Cancer Charity and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital to organise this one.

Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have shared their life experiences on their BBC TV fishing programme

Comedians Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have fished in Norfolk with their BBC TV programme, Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing where they share personal experiences of life, and Mortimer's experience of heart problems, while fishing.

Mr Sayers said the Reel Recovery activities were "cathartic" and offered men some escape as well.

During the weekend, a ceremony is held, where each man receives a fishing vest which has been passed down from each retreat.

"We have fishing vests which go back 22 years from when Reel Recovery started this programme in the United States and we get every participant to sign and date it and write a message on it," he said.

"Some of them will be wearing vests that would have had 22 years of [being worn by] other guys with cancer.

"There's a real feeling of strength that comes from that, and brotherhood."