Palliacco, the charitable organization that provides support and accompaniment to persons approaching the end of their lives as well as to those close to them, celebrates its 10th birthday this year.

For the past six years, Palliacco – which provides its services to the MRC des Laurentides region in both French and English – is mainly financed by a very popular fundraising event: The Trek Under the Stars (La randonnée sous les étoiles). As last year, participants can take part at the Domaine Saint-Bernard in Mont-Tremblant, on Saturday, January 27, or at the Centre de plein air Camping Ste-Agathe the following Saturday, February 3. The two events each run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In ten-person teams or in La camaraderieformat – which groups those registering as singles – each participant is free to choose between two torch lit courses: the 7-km course traveled on foot, snowshoes or cross-country skis; or a 2-km course traveled on foot. While the trek is accessible to all, crampons for walkers, plus a headlamp, are recommended.

What’s more, each course is punctuated by comfort stops where broth and warm wine are served. To wind up the event, Palliacco thanks all its welcome donor-participants by serving wine, cheese, terrines and pâtés, as well as sweets. The Mont-Tremblant version of the event adds access to the Velan Astronomy Pavilion where the January sky can be seen in all its glory.

Registration of a team costs a minimum of $1000, or $100 per person. Teams raising more than $5,000 receive exclusive rewards including an overnight at the Domaine Saint-Bernard on January 28.

“The trek under the stars provides us with the opportunity to tell people who we are and invites them to call on our services,” says Aline Robillard, the organization’s president and leader. “This event provides an atmosphere of camaraderie where performance gives way to the simple pleasure of being there and being together.”

With a second event site which last year attracted ten additional teams, an organizing committee comprised solely of volunteers, as well as gifts and services offered free of charge by valued sponsors, it looks like the $100,000 objective will be easily attained. The real question is this: will it be possible to raise more than the $145,000 brought in last year?