A woman in athletic attire with a dog under an inflatable arch at an outdoor race event, with mountains in the background and a crowd of people.

Our Team

Caitlin McArdle

Founder

I started my career as a ski patroller and later became a paramedic. Over time, I was diagnosed with PTSD and went through periods of feeling panicked, isolated and hopeless. Therapy helped, but it was draining and I often felt like I was slipping through the cracks without enough support.

Fly fishing became a way to take a break from what was going on in my head. It takes you to beautiful places, and I found time in nature gave me exactly what I needed. Being on the water and focusing on the rhythm of the cast helped me find calm. Learning something new and landing a fish gave me a sense of achievement, which helped to rebuild my confidence. The pull to get out fishing again and explore new places helped me to regain a sense of purpose.

Now, I want to share that experience with other first responders. Through The Drift Forward Project, I hope to build a supportive community where people can heal, find connection and feel a sense of hope again.

  • I chose the name The Drift Forward Project because it speaks to both the art of fly fishing and the quiet, often unseen process of healing.

    In fly fishing, achieving the perfect drift — where your fly floats naturally with the current — is the goal. You’re not forcing it, you're not fighting it. You're just present, tuned in and letting the water carry your line exactly where it needs to go. That felt like the perfect metaphor for what I wanted this project to be.

    Recovery from PTSD often feels like an uphill battle — exhausting, lonely, and heavy with pressure to “get better” quickly. But healing doesn’t always have to come through struggle. Sometimes, it can happen gently. It can happen while you're standing in a river, casting a line, talking with someone who truly gets it — without even realising that you're moving forward.

    This project isn’t about fixing anyone. It’s about creating a space where healing can happen naturally — through connection, time in nature and the rhythm of the water. It's about drifting forward, without having to fight the current.