Casting for Recovery by Alma Hicks

Casting for Recovery: Casting for Recovery (CfR) provides healing outdoor retreats for women with breast cancer, at no cost to the participants. CfR’s retreats offer opportunities for women to find inspiration, discover renewed energy for life, and experience healing connections with other women and nature. The retreats are open to women with breast cancer of all ages, in all stages of treatment and recovery. For over 20 years, women from all walks of life have benefitted from CfR’s inspiring program model.

Alma Hicks: In 2014 I was chosen to participate in Casting for Recovery in Cimarron, New Mexico. It was a 2 1/2-day retreat with myself and 13 other breast cancer survivors from New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and the San Luis Valley. It was the first year the San Luis Valley was specifically included. The retreat was truly healing for me in, a weekend that was a real game-changer for me. The staff and other participants helped me in more ways than you can imagine and on so many levels, we actually helped each other. This retreat gave me permission to actually talk about my cancer, to grieve, to laugh and accept all my feelings I have experienced through this journey. We would go from laughter to tears and end with embracing each other. I went in not knowing a single person and walked out with lifelong friends. We shared so many stories and information that made the journey toward healing a little easier. I wholeheartedly recommend this retreat to any woman going through breast cancer, no matter if you are newly diagnosed, or have been a survivor for many years. There is absolutely no cost to the participant other than their own transportation to and from the retreat. All meals, accommodations, and gear are included free of charge. Trust me, you are spoiled rotten for the entire retreat! 

I now actively volunteer for Casting for Recovery thought-out the year. I’m usually fundraising because the costs are approximately $1400 per participant. We choose two to three from the San Luis Valley, and we normally have 14 total participants for the retreat. I try to recruit the participants and I also travel to and help at the retreat. I look forward to it every year. It’s not about the fly fishing, the fishing is just the bonus of the retreat! I've been working at San Luis Valley Health since August of 2016. I started off in the Admissions at RMC, then transferred to Oncology. In November of 2017 I applied and became a Polysomnographic Technologist (Sleep Tech) for the Sleep lab at both RMC and CCH. I am currently working towards being a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist.

For more information, to become a participant, or to donate to the New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, San Luis Valley Casting for Recovery Retreat please apply online at castingforrecovery.org/nm/.  The deadline for this upcoming New Mexico venture is July 27, 2018.