On 15th October the Kenmore Hotel in Perthshire is to host the traditional closing dinner to mark the end of the salmon fishing season. This year the closing dinner will raise funds for Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month with an angling theme.

Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland (CFR) is a unique fly fishing programme for ladies who have or have had breast cancer. It provides idyllic retreats around the UK and Ireland.  Any woman who has experienced breast cancer is eligible to apply to attend a retreat (with medical clearance from their doctor).  Retreats are provided at no cost to participants and enjoy the ongoing financial backing of the Countryside Alliance.  Trained medical staff and fly fishing instructors are on hand at all times and the fishing tackle and appropriate clothing is provided by Orvis UK.

The Kenmore Hotel is at the emergence of the River Tay from Loch Tay and is set in spectacular scenery.  The hotel traditionally celebrates the end of the Tay salmon fishing season with a ceremony including a lone piper playing through Kenmore Bridge on the last boat, followed by a charity dinner and auction, which this year will raise money for Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland. 
 
CFR UK & Ireland Programme Co-ordinator, Sue Hunter commented: “We are hugely grateful to the Kenmore Hotel for choosing Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland to benefit from this special day. CFR combines fly fishing with breast cancer therapy, making us the perfect beneficiaries of this fundraiser.”

“We will be holding our first ever retreat in Scotland in 2009, and are very much looking forward to bringing the initiative north of the border.  The beautiful Scottish scenery will make a perfect backdrop for participants to learn a new skill, make new friends and enjoy getting away from it all. With the boost we are being given by the Kenmore Hotel, we hope to be able to help many, many brave women.”

Kirsty Gowans from the Kenmore Hotel commented, “Every year we at the Kenmore Hotel need to make the difficult choice of beneficiary from our annual charity dinner and auction after the closing of the River Tay salmon season.  This year we are delighted to support Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland who will be hosting their first retreat in Scotland in 2009.  We hope the dinner will raise substantial funds for CFR UK & Ireland, to assist with this effort we would be pleased to hear from anyone willing to offer suitable auction lots for the dinner. “

“This promises to be a fantastic occasion and we are delighted with the response from our patrons who over the years have raised significant amounts for other worthwhile causes including the AST, GWCT, AFYD & Tay Foundation.”