Over the next few days, eight women with metastatic breast cancer will experience a therapeutic fly fishing adventure on the shores of the Sainte-Marguerite River. For them, it will be an opportunity to let go and live in the moment fully.
“We created the Catch and Relief pilot project because women have mentioned that they needed to disconnect and let go of many things, especially to think about something other than their illness,” explains Catherine Provost, Project Manager and Nature and Adventure Intervention Facilitator for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation. It can be hard to take your mind off things and see the positive in everything.”
The On the Tip of the Toes Foundation worked in partnership with the Fondation du cancer du sein du Québec and the Fondation québécoise du cancer to create a pilot project adapted to the reality of women aged 30 to 39 living with metastatic breast cancer.
“It is important to recognize their diagnosis, because metastatic breast cancer is not well known, ‘explains Cécilia Peugeot, Social Worker with the Fondation du cancer du sein du Québec, who is accompanying the group. They have special needs and we must give them this recognition.”
This is how a customized trip was planned for Anik, Everard, Mariève, Caroline, Émilie, Anna, Geneviève, and Joanie. Everything is calculated to create a smooth atmosphere,’ notes Catherine Provost, ‘but behind each action, we have a therapeutic objective. We don’t do things for nothing.”
From Saturday to Wednesday, the eight women accompanied by 14 other people, will experience a fly fishing trip on the St-Marguerite River. The group includes four fishing guides, a doctor, a nurse, two social workers, two therapeutic adventure facilitators, three logisticians (including the key task of preparing meals) and a blogger / photographer.
When arriving at Bardsville Cottages on the shores of the St-Marguerite River, participants were asked to hand over their watches and cell phones. The goal: to disconnect from everyday life and let themselves be guided by the rhythm of the sun and the activities. “We want to teach them new activities so that they stop thinking about daily tasks and worries,” notes Catherine Provost.
The trip began with a sensory awareness activity on the riverbank. Then, the participants received the equipment they needed for the adventure, including sleeping bags, dry bags, outdoor clothing, and several gifts from different sponsors, including water bottles, a reusable lunch bag, sunscreen, lip balm and some. Later, they had a fitting session for waterproof boots and pants for walking in the river.
With good advice from Yves, one of the fishing mentors for the trip, the participants learned the essential knot for fly fishing, the barred eel knot.
After a short rest, the whole group came back around the fire to enjoy a good meal in the open air. On the menu: leek soup, vegetable stir-fry and chicken on rice and Jaco’s bread.
The evening ended with a discussion on the objectives of each participant for the next few days.
Participants don’t always know what they are coming for,’ notes Catherine Provost, ‘but they always leave with quite a bit more than they thought they would get out of their experience. One of the most important aspects is that when they go home, they know they are not alone in what they are experiencing.”
Guillaume Roy, Blogger and Photographer for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation.
In pictures
