Who Will She Be?

While putting together the details of the First Fly Fishing Festival in 2016, I was having a conversation with one of my co-workers, Lisa Conley. Occasionally I would see her at work and ask how she was doing. She was in the midst of her second battle with breast cancer. This strong lady was working two jobs and raising her kids alone. She was the poster child for strength and hope. It occurred to me that she needed a break from life and her illness. So I asked her to take a fly fishing trip with me. Her response was, “I don’t fish!”, then she asked if there was cell service? My reply was “I know you don’t fish, you don’t have to fish and no there is no cell service.” She responded with “sounds great, I’ll go!”

During that trip Lisa slept, ate and enjoyed all her new friends. She didn’t fish, had no desire to. The trip was about relaxation and time away from her responsibilities and health problems. A so called re-charge of her soul. She also shared good news with us, her cancer was gone. Lisa was the inspiration behind what would become an annual “hand up!”

Since that first trip we have taken a lady that is fighting, or has fought a life-threatening illness free of charge. It’s our way of giving back. There are no certain illness she has to have or had. She needs to be healthy and physical enough to go on an adventure.

*If you want to nominate a lady for the 2020 Fly Fishing Festival please email information to castlikeagirl@gmail.com.