ALPINE - Owl’s Head Challenge

Foundation of Stars and Owl’s Head team up to raise money for paediatric research projects

The Foundation of Stars and Owl’s Head are gearing up to host the second edition of the ALPINE - Owl’s Head Challenge on Saturday in support of paediatric research. Photo courtesy of Sarah Kemerer.

By Taylor McClure
Townships’ Daily News Bits
CIDI 99.1 FM

The Foundation of Stars and Owl’s Head are gearing up to host the second edition of the ALPINE - Owl’s Head Challenge this weekend and they are welcoming the community to hit the slopes in support of the cause. 

Coming up on its 45th anniversary, the Foundation of Stars is based in Montreal and its main goal is supporting paediatric research projects in childhood diseases across Quebec. The foundation works in collaboration with the four paediatric research centres in the province to ensure that information is shared. The sharing of information is seen as beneficial to other researchers and other fields and plays a role in advancing progress. Sarah Kemerer, director of events for the foundation, said that the foundation is known for acting as “a catalyst for young research teams.”

The ALPINE - Owl’s Head Challenge is an outdoor sporting event that invites participants to do as many tours as they possibly can up and down Owl’s Head mountain to raise money for paediatric research projects. The challenge involves walking up a hill with skins attached to the bottom of the skis and then skiing back down. It can be done either solo or in teams of two to four people. 

All proceeds raised from the event will be staying in the Eastern Township to fund a new mental health research project being headed at the CHU de Sherbrooke. The project is led by Jessica Rassy, an associate professor in the school of nursing at the Université de Sherbrooke, in collaboration with other researchers from across the province. 

“Paediatrics, for those that have children and have been through the process, understand that it’s all about ground work and laying the foundation for these babies and these children that are going to grow up healthy,” mentioned Kemerer. “There are a lot of diseases out there that are unknown, that do not receive the highlight or the mention, that when caught early, when treated early, when diagnosed at a stage where treatment is still possible, it can have such a drastic impact on that child’s life and the life of the person supporting that child as well.”

Kemerer added that the foundation tries to support those researchers that are focusing on what they call “the incurable diseases.”

“That might sound like an oxymoron because as far as the dictionary is concerned something that is incurable won’t have a cure, but those are barriers, through our researchers, that we are trying to break down to better support the families across the province,” she noted.

The ALPINE - Owl’s Head Challenge first took place about two years ago when a member of the board of directors for the Foundation of Stars reached out to local Townshipper Mike Cyr. 

“It was a friend on the board of directors for the foundation that contacted me to see if I’d spearhead the fundraising and some of the operational aspects at Owl’s Head. (…) It was a nice fit from a friend that asked me to help out and when I got to know more about the foundation,” said Cyr, volunteer with the foundation and director of operations for some of its events. “Really, what they do, is they ultimately helps kids through financing researchers and doctors in the health field to solve issues that are incredible. (…) I figured any way that I could help benefit them. If I can help one kid, one family, down the road that’s awesome.”

Highlighting the event, Cyr and Kemerer explained what the challenge will look like for participants. 

The foundation works alongside the Canadian Ski Patrol, the paid and volunteer ski patrollers, the snow groomers, and the operations team at Owl’s Head to ensure the safety of participants. 

“We go up with climbing skins on our skis. We go up on foot, take the skins off at the top, and ski down. It’s about a four-five hour race that people that are in really good shape can do multiple times and there’s those like myself that can do it once or twice. My job is to establish the course, make sure it’s safe, because what a lot of people don’t know is that you end up skiing in the dark. You have a headlight on,” he noted. 

“We blow the whistle at 4:30 p.m. (…) There are honours reserved for those that complete the most rounds with the fastest time. The biggest honours goes to those that made the most money,” mentioned Kemerer. “You can sign up individually or in a team. The fundraising goal per person is $250. (…) At the end of the evening we invite everyone to join us in the main lodge at the bar for a festive après-ski.”

Money raised from the event will support the mental health research project being led by Rassy and her team. Once the research project is complete, the findings will be shared with paediatric research centres across the province. 

“Her specific project is looking to create a protocol to support young people at risk of suicide who are presenting themselves to paediatric departments across the province. We have spoken so much about mental over the last several years, particularly throughout the pandemic. (…) It’s a topic that the Foundation of Stars has put a lot of attention on, particularly in the last few years and particularly for adolescents and teenagers,” explained Kemerer. “Often when we speak of paediatric research or paediatric work, people immediately focus on infants, newborns, and children under five. Paediatrics covers everything under the age of 18.”

Cyr expects about 150 racers at Owl’s Head this weekend and he hopes to beat last year’s fundraising record. 

“On the operational side I always want safety and security for everyone. It’s no fun if someone twists a knee or hurts themselves coming up or down. So a safe and secure event, but ultimately I’d like to break last year’s record. (…) It was an amazing amount. It was like $135,000 or $140,000 by the end of the day just for Owl’s Head. (…) If we can help one family or one kid through the doctors and the research we do throughout Quebec and Canada, that’s worth its weight,” Cyr emphasized. 

There is still time to register for the event or to make a donation. Those interested can sign up here.  The registration includes a meal and a drink that will be served at the main lodge after the event. A DJ will be there to bring entertainment and local businesses donated a variety of raffle prizes to be won. 

The event takes place this Saturday, March 11, and runs from 3:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 40 Chem. du Mont Owls Head, Mansonville, QC J0E 1X0, Canada. 

More information on the Foundation of Stars can be found here.

Listen to the full interview below: