Once again we hate turning away bookings, but once a year the motel is booked out for “REEL RECOVERY”.
The previous blogs below explain what it is all about.
Fishing therapy – Reel Recovery
Below is a repeat of a 2018 “daily “report” to follow up on a meeting yesterday with Mark Tomsett (image below) who is involved with Reel Recovery. SWMBO has offered TRM for future sessions.
Before the explanation of what Reel Recovery is all about we need to apologise to several regular inmates who might be inconvenienced if their usual early November bookings get disrupted. After a session with Mark, SWMBO did Her sums and offered TRM facilities for their next “retreat”. Apologies to the “TRM November Club” if we need to change your booking times but SWMBO says the RR retreat is more important. How could we argue?
Reel Recovery was founded in 2003 by a group of avid fly-fishers, inspired by their fishing buddy’s ongoing battle with brain cancer. Witnessing first-hand the beneficial impact fly-fishing provided their friend, they created Reel Recovery to provide the same opportunity for other men battling the disease. Combining expert fly-fishing instruction with directed “courageous conversations”, the organization provides men with all forms of cancer a unique opportunity to share their stories, learn a new skill, form lasting friendships and gain renewed hope as they confront the challenges of cancer.
“What is a Reel Recovery Retreat?”
In a nutshell – a weekend of fly fishing and camaraderie for men with cancer. Though only a few days in duration, a Reel Recovery retreat can be a life-changing event for men battling cancer. The programme blends outdoor activity with directed conversations to create a unique environment conducive to relaxed, open interactions. The program is designed to be both experiential and reflective, to develop group camaraderie as well as individual skills, and to build bonds of friendship that provide a reservoir of personal hope. This is a special weekend of support, reflection and adventure.
Mission & Purpose
The mission of Reel Recovery is to help men in the cancer recovery process by introducing them to the healing powers of the sport of fly-fishing, while providing a safe, supportive environment to explore their personal experiences of cancer with others who share their stories.
Our purpose is to address the growing demand for and limited supply of support services specifically tailored for men with cancer. Our overarching goal is to improve the lives of the men we serve. We seek to give these courageous men a respite from their day-to-day concerns so that they might gain a fresh outlook on their fight with cancer; we facilitate discussions that give them strength, encouragement and a new network of friends and support; we provide cancer information and resources to enable better management of their disease; and we provide them new skills to bring joy, enthusiasm and renewed hope as they confront the challenges of their cancer survivorship.
Programme Goals
- To provide a safe, reflective environment for the participants to discuss their disease and recovery with other men with shared experiences, thereby providing support and information to help them in their recovery.
- To provide expert fly-fishing instruction that enables the participants to learn a new skill, form a healing connection with nature, and participate in a sport they can continue throughout their recovery and lifetime.
- To provide participants information about cancer-related resources, both in the local community and nationally, to facilitate networking and enhanced management of their recovery.
“Who is eligible to go?”
All adult men (age 21+) who have (or have had) cancer, in any stage of treatment are eligible to participate.
“Do I need to know how to fly fish?”
Not at all – guidance is provided by expert fly-fishing instructors and guides. Time fishing out on the water will be with an experienced fishing buddy who will help you find your way in the water.
“How many people attend?”
A maximum of between ten and twelve men (venue dependent) are invited to participate, to ensure the quality of the instruction and to create a powerful small-group dynamic.
“What will it cost me?”
There is no cost to yourself for the weekend – all you need to do is organise your own transport to and from the venue. Reel Recovery provides all meals, accommodation, fishing equipment and fishing licenses.
Previous TRM reports on fishing as therapy:
The following articles explain better than I can how others have recognised that fishing is a successful method of therapy for mental health. This is mentioned after learning so much in the last year about the effects and cures for depression. It seems to be an epidemic? Yet never in NZ have I seen any recommendations for therapy comprising a good healthy walk or ride in nature’s wilderness to test physical fitness or treating trout fishing as a cure? It seems so obvious that perhaps I may have missed them?
Now after our 19th year here in blissful retirement lifestyle (?) SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed manages everything She sees around here) has developed into a health therapist as well. So often She has watched Jafa’s (Just Another Fantastic Aucklander?) arrive here with their blood pressure completely boiling over, stressed out, uptight, and within a day they calm down and relax and benefit physically, mentally and emotionally from Tongariro fly fishing therapy. She knows how it has saved me! It may have something to do with altitude (and attitude!) as on the Tongariro we are 1000 feet above Auckland/Wellington stress levels in nature’s 100% pure environment where one cannot help but relax and restart counting our blessings. It is so obvious and beneficial that SWMBO should qualify for Government Health agencies to pay all TRM room rates – I thought you might agree with that…
