{"id":143993,"date":"2023-03-09T16:27:04","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T21:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/?p=143993"},"modified":"2023-03-09T17:24:15","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T22:24:15","slug":"foundation-of-stars-and-owls-head-team-up-to-raise-money-for-paediatric-research-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/foundation-of-stars-and-owls-head-team-up-to-raise-money-for-paediatric-research-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Foundation of Stars and Owl’s Head team up to raise money for paediatric research projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Foundation of Stars and Owl\u2019s Head are gearing up to host the second edition of the ALPINE - Owl\u2019s Head Challenge this weekend and they are welcoming the community to hit the slopes in support of the cause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u201ca catalyst for young research teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ALPINE - Owl\u2019s Head Challenge is an outdoor sporting event that invites participants to do as many tours as they possibly can up and down Owl\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 Universit\u00e9 de Sherbrooke, in collaboration with other researchers from across the province.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPaediatrics, for those that have children and have been through the process, understand that it\u2019s all about ground work and laying the foundation for these babies and these children that are going to grow up healthy,\u201d mentioned Kemerer. \u201cThere 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\u2019s life and the life of the person supporting that child as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kemerer added that the foundation tries to support those researchers that are focusing on what they call \u201cthe incurable diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat might sound like an oxymoron because as far as the dictionary is concerned something that is incurable won\u2019t 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,\u201d she noted.<\/p>\n

The ALPINE - Owl\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a friend on the board of directors for the foundation that contacted me to see if I\u2019d spearhead the fundraising and some of the operational aspects at Owl\u2019s Head. (\u2026) It was a nice fit from a friend that asked me to help out and when I got to know more about the foundation,\u201d said Cyr, volunteer with the foundation and director of operations for some of its events. \u201cReally, what they do, is they ultimately helps kids through financing researchers and doctors in the health field to solve issues that are incredible. (\u2026) I figured any way that I could help benefit them. If I can help one kid, one family, down the road that\u2019s awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Highlighting the event, Cyr and Kemerer explained what the challenge will look like for participants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The foundation works alongside the Canadian Ski Patrol, the paid and volunteer ski patrollers, the snow groomers, and the operations team at Owl\u2019s Head to ensure the safety of participants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe go up with climbing skins on our skis. We go up on foot, take the skins off at the top, and ski down. It\u2019s about a four-five hour race that people that are in really good shape can do multiple times and there\u2019s those like myself that can do it once or twice. My job is to establish the course, make sure it\u2019s safe, because what a lot of people don\u2019t know is that you end up skiing in the dark. You have a headlight on,\u201d he noted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe blow the whistle at 4:30 p.m. (\u2026) 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,\u201d mentioned Kemerer. \u201cYou can sign up individually or in a team. The fundraising goal per person is $250. (\u2026) At the end of the evening we invite everyone to join us in the main lodge at the bar for a festive apr\u00e8s-ski.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHer 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. (\u2026) It\u2019s 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,\u201d explained Kemerer. \u201cOften 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cyr expects about 150 racers at Owl\u2019s Head this weekend and he hopes to beat last year\u2019s fundraising record.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the operational side I always want safety and security for everyone. It\u2019s no fun if someone twists a knee or hurts themselves coming up or down. So a safe and secure event, but ultimately I\u2019d like to break last year\u2019s record. (\u2026) It was an amazing amount. It was like $135,000 or $140,000 by the end of the day just for Owl\u2019s Head. (\u2026) If we can help one family or one kid through the doctors and the research we do throughout Quebec and Canada, that\u2019s worth its weight,\u201d Cyr emphasized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is still time to register for the event or to make a donation. Those interested can sign up here.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The event takes place this Saturday, March 11, from 3:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 40 Chem. du Mont Owls Head, Mansonville, QC J0E 1X0, Canada.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More information on the Foundation of Stars can be found here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Listen to the full interview below:<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Foundation of Stars and Owl\u2019s Head are gearing up to host the second edition of the ALPINE – Owl\u2019s Head Challenge this weekend and they are welcoming the community to hit the slopes in support of the cause.\u00a0 Coming up on its 45th anniversary, the Foundation of Stars is based in Montreal and its…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":144003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[57,223],"tags":[24111,24107,18247,14645,2515,1579,1107,24108,24110,18246,20835,1507,24109],"radio":[246],"origine":[274,259,260],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143993"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144085,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143993\/revisions\/144085"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143993"},{"taxonomy":"radio","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/radio?post=143993"},{"taxonomy":"origine","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/origine?post=143993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}