More than just a torchlight descent, this evening will bring together more than 150 French resorts on Thursday 20 February, with the mission of making the mountains accessible to underprivileged or sick children. A challenge supported by France Montagnes and its partners, with a single objective: to enable everyone to discover the beauty of the summits and the joy of winter sports.
Imagine the snow-covered slopes bathed in soft light, a silent procession of ski instructors, torches in hand, making their way under a starry sky. It's this moment of suspended emotion and solidarity that will mark the second edition of the "P'tits Flambeaux".
Last year, thanks to the donations collected, more than 5,000 children were able to enjoy their first mountain holiday. This year, 20,000 torches will be sold, raising funds for three committed associations: "Petits Princes", "Génération Montagne" and "Enfance et Montagne". These are just some of the initiatives that are working to give those most in need a chance to get away from it all.
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The event is open to everyone. To take part, simply buy a torch from the ESF offices, tourist offices or ski lifts in partner resorts. Registration for the descent is limited and must be made in advance.
Whether you're on your skis or just watching, every torch you light is a gesture of solidarity, a show of support for these children who dream of gliding across the snow, smelling the pure mountain air or marvelling at the immaculate landscape.
Three associations with three ambitions
Since 1987, the "Petits Princes" association has been helping seriously ill children and teenagers to make their dreams come true. Whether it's meeting an Olympic champion, discovering the joys of skiing or simply seeing snow for the first time, these precious moments give them extra energy to fight their illness.
The association is part of "Famille Plus, la montagne solidaire", an operation run by the Association Nationale des Maires des Stations de Montagne (ANMSM). Its aim is to give children an unforgettable experience with their families, far away from hospitals and everyday medical care.
Created by Domaines Skiables de France, the "Génération Montagne" fund finances community and environmental projects in the mountains. In 2023, it enabled 30 pupils from Saint-Denis to discover snow and skiing in Haute-Savoie, an unprecedented experience for these young city dwellers. It also supported the training of new tandem-ski pilots to make winter sports accessible to people with disabilities.
Far from limiting itself to the social aspect, "Génération Montagne" is also committed to the environment: its objective? A "Zero Wild Waste" mountain by 2030. This mission is being led by Mountain Riders, which is raising awareness of the need to respect Alpine ecosystems, and Protect Our Winters France, which is promoting more responsible mobility in the resorts.
Mountain discovery classes are part of France's educational heritage, but their numbers are falling year on year. With this in mind, the Syndicat National des Moniteurs de Ski Français (SNMSF) has set up "Enfance & Montagne", an endowment fund to finance schools wishing to organise trips to higher altitudes.
A solidarity event that grows every year
In three years, this programme has enabled 39,000 children to be sent on holiday, thanks to over €1.5 million in donations. But "Enfance & Montagne" doesn't stop there: it also supports "Imagine your Mountains", an initiative that encourages young people to get involved in protecting the environment at high altitude.
With more and more resorts, instructors and holidaymakers getting involved, "Les P'tits Flambeaux" is gradually establishing itself as a not-to-be-missed winter event in France. An event where the beauty of the spectacle is matched only by the generosity of the participants.
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Whether you're at the start of the descent or simply a spectator, each torch raised lights up a child's dream. By combining magic and solidarity, the mountains are once again proving that they are a place for sharing and emotions, where every gesture counts to offer a little happiness to those who need it most.
See you on 20 February 2025, skis on or torch in hand, for a night when solidarity will shine on the summits.
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