More than 150 French ski resorts are joining forces this Thursday 19 February for a torchlight descent like no other. The aim: to give children who don't always get the chance to discover the mountains. It's a nationwide effort, supported by esf instructors, resorts and three committed associations.
On Thursday evening, as night falls, the snow fronts will ignite in all four corners of the mountain ranges. From Chamonix at Pyrenees, and Vosges at Southern Alps, The torches will draw a single line of light across the slopes.
A line of solidarity. The des P'tits Flambeaux, A national event organised simultaneously in more than 150 French resorts, with esf instructors, ski lift teams and tourist offices.
First mountain experience
Behind the visual magic is a very concrete objective: to finance access to the mountains for children who are unable to go on holiday. In the first two editions, over 1,000 children have already been able to discover the snow, the peaks and mountain activities thanks to the funds raised. This year, 20,000 torches are on sale to support three beneficiary organisations: Association Petits Princes, Génération Montagne and Enfance et Montagne.
Over 100,000 people are expected to take part in this collective descent, coordinated at national level by France Montagnes, under the impetus of its founding members: the Association Nationale des Maires des Stations de Montagne, Domaines Skiables de France and the Syndicat National des Moniteurs du Ski Français.
«The idea is simple: to transform a festive occasion into a real lever for solidarity».» sums up a station manager involved in the operation. «We buy a torch, we take part in the descent, and we give children their first real experience of the mountains.»
The principle is open to everyone. To take part, all you have to do is buy a torch from your local esf, tourist office or ski lift company. Then it's time for a group descent, supervised by the instructors, in a warm, family atmosphere.
Discovery classes
The funds raised are divided between three complementary causes. With the Petits Princes Association, the aim is to help seriously ill children make their mountain dreams come true, as part of the «Famille Plus, la montagne solidaire» operation.
Génération Montagne, a fund supported by Domaines Skiables de France, finances social, solidarity and environmental projects, including a recent partnership with the French Handisport Federation, which enabled almost 1,000 disabled people to ski this winter. Finally, Enfance & Montagne supports discovery classes, to give the mountains their rightful place in the educational curriculum.
Éric Brèche, President of the Syndicat National des Moniteurs du Ski Français, reminds us what is at stake. «As teachers and supervisors, we feel it's important to play a leading role in helping children to discover the mountains. In three years, more than 1.5 million euros have been distributed, enabling 1,560 discovery classes to be financed, benefiting more than 39,000 children throughout France».»