Sponsorship - Group - Gaz de France

Promotion of hiking activities

All over Europe, hiking paths form a natural heritage of inestimable value. In France, 15 million people a year use the near 800,000 km of tracks and paths.
Aware of the richness and fragility of this resource, Gaz de France wanted to contribute to:

• the preservation of Europe's tracks and paths,
• the promotion of hiking activities,
• youth training and employment.

The Group sponsors:

• la Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP) [French hiking association], a role reinforced in 2002 by the creation of the FFRP-Gaz de France Alliance,
• the Spanish and Portuguese hiking federations (FEDME and FPMR),
• Fédération Européenne de Randonnée Pédestre (FERP) [European Hiking Federation].

In mainland France alone, actions supported by Gaz de France have contributed to:

• the rehabilitation of 10,000 km of tracks,
• the creation of 100 “info-hike” points,
• the creation of 100 youth jobs,
• improving hiking access for disabled or disadvantaged groups.

Sponsorship of actions undertaken by Gaz de France employees

Through its sponsorship actions, Gaz de France also backs initiatives started or supported by its employees. "Course du cœur" and "Nuit de la solidarité" are just 2 examples.

“La Course du coeur” [Heart Race]

The goal of "Course du cœur" is to raise public awareness about organ donation. “Course du coeur” is a 4-day and 4-night running race between Paris and Courchevel. In the 2007 version, some fifteen Gaz de France employees formed a relay team to run the 750km race. A group of youngsters from the Action Prévention Sport Association, which trains people in difficulties to become sports coaches, joined the team. The 2007 race was sponsored by athletics champion Stéphane Diagana.

“La Nuit de la solidarité” [Solidarity Night]

Solidarity Night came into being in 1998 at the initiative of a group of volunteers from the National Facilities Centre (now  GRTgaz's Engineering Centre). The objective was to collect funds for several humanitarian organisations, including “Restos du Cœur”, “Codegaz”, the “Caroline” Association and AIADD (integrated aid to sustainable development).

The 2005 session of this event enabled Restos du Cœur (a food welfare association) to distribute 12,400 meals.
The Foundation will again sponsor the 2006 Solidarity Night event, with the aim of bringing hope and warmth to people suffering severe deprivation.