Who are the 4 winners of the Iphigénie and Whympr Fund?
We are proud to unveil the winners of the Iphigénie and Whympr Fund for the winter of 2024/25. This initiative, jointly led with Iphigénie, aims to financially support projects that embody values dear to both of our applications: love for the mountains, respect for the environment, democratization of outdoor sports, and pushing one’s limits. After reviewing numerous applications, we have selected four inspiring projects. Let’s discover them in this article.
Discover the 4 selected projects
1- "OCTOPUS," the new film by Julien “Pica” Herry
Pica presents in his brand-new film OCTOPUS a series of 8 snowboard lines on the Aiguille de la Glière. This project demonstrates that an extraordinary adventure can take place right nearby, on an accessible and little-known peak. With a very low carbon footprint, Pica Herry wishes to remind us that the beauty of the mountains can be experienced sustainably and respectfully. We’ll share the film once it’s released!
2- "The Sun Shines for Everyone," the association for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the mountains
The association Le soleil brille pour tout le monde proposes to take people with intellectual disabilities into the mountains to climb a peak at 2026 meters. Beyond the physical achievement, this project aims to denounce the absence of athletes with intellectual disabilities at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan. This solidarity and inclusion-focused project resonates particularly with the values of openness and sharing that we support. It embodies pushing oneself beyond limits and proves that the mountains are accessible to all, without exception, while denouncing the non-inclusive practices of the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan.
Find the association's Facebook page: Le soleil brille pour tout le monde.
3- "Beyond the Mountains," a podcast by Morgane Orler, Charlie Dupiot, and Alice Milot
This project led by Morgane Orler, a mountain guide, Alice Milot, and Charlie Dupiot, radio journalists, is a series of podcasts tracing the discovery of the mountains by vulnerable audiences, such as young people from underprivileged urban neighborhoods and exiled individuals. Through these poignant narratives, the mountains transform into a therapeutic space, a place of renewal and personal reconstruction. These radio portraits remind us how much the mountains can be a healing environment, revealing touching and inspiring human stories. We are excited to support a project that uses the mountains as a vector for transformation and resilience. The podcast launch is scheduled for December 2024.
4- Altitude 3999 – the project of forgotten peaks by Anastasia Bouzdine
Anastasia Bouzdine, a mountain enthusiast, has taken on a unique challenge: to climb or ski all the peaks located between 3900 and 3999 meters, dubbed "the forgotten 4000s." This project, both technical and poetic, aims to document these often-overlooked peaks, which offer exceptional landscapes and challenges worthy of the greatest mountaineers. By highlighting these little-known summits, Anastasia hopes to encourage mountain enthusiasts to discover a more authentic approach, away from the frenzy of the most popular peaks. We also wish to eventually add these summits to Whympr so that our community can explore and fully experience them. We enthusiastically support this initiative, which combines exploration and mountain protection.
These four projects, all as different as they are inspiring, reflect the diversity of practices and values that we seek to promote through the Iphigénie and Whympr Fund. Each, in its own way, contributes to a more respectful, more supportive, and more accessible mountain experience. We are proud to support them and look forward to sharing with you the progress of their adventures.
