Rotary International
Rotary International is a global network of solidarity decision-makers who dedicate their expertise to the most important humanitarian causes. It is a grassroots organization in the form of a club. Each “district” is a regional level headed by a “governor,” a direct representative of the President of Rotary International. District 1700 contains the Rotary Clubs of a large part of the Occitanie region and is made up of 10 departments: Hérault, Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège, Tarn, Haute-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Gers, Lot and the Principality of Andorra.
In 2018, a large-scale international operation, led by the Rotary Foundation, enabled District 1700 to raise €17,500 in support of the replanting project. In January of 2019, the Rotary Club of l’Union Saint-Jean (31) organised a concert by “Archipels, the vocal workshop of Les Éléments” of which all the proceeds (€5,000) were donated to VNF.
Nouvelles Racines
Nouvelles Racines (“New Roots”) is a charity based entirely in Minervois that raises money to fund the replacement of canker stain-infected trees along the Canal du Midi. The charity, which is based on the Canal du Midi in the Château de Ventenac-en-Minervois, aims to promote heritage and sustainable development through their patronage of the replanting project.
Each year, in partnership with the Ventenac winery, a special Nouvelles Racines vintage is created so that €1 from the sale of each bottle can be donated to the replanting project. The label of this vintage is designed by local schoolchildren.
The charity also co-organizes fundraising events such as concerts on the water, and food or historical tours. Finally, visitors will find a donation station in the wine cellar where they can make instant donations of €3.
The Canal du Midi Rally
The canal du Midi Rally is the oldest French rowing event. It is featured in the French Rowing Federation’s excursion guide and, every August, rowers can cover more than 200 km (125 miles) along the canal du Midi over 5 days.
Each year, the canal du Midi Rally brings together around 150 experienced and physically fit rowers who can alternate between rowing, taking boats out of the water at locks and putting them back, and cycling.
A share of €10 per entry is donated to the canal du Midi replanting project.
The Lauragais Canalathlon
The Lauragais Canalathlon is a friendly sporting event that was launched in 2016 to mark the 20th anniversary of the canal du Midi’s UNESCO World Heritage Site classification and the 350th anniversary of its construction.
It takes place every other year and the second edition in 2018 was a roaring success. Following its cancellation in 2020 due to the pandemic, the event returned in 2021 and proved to be a fun sporting event for all to enjoy.
A share of each registration fee is donated to the canal du Midi replanting project.
Lions Club Béziers Doyen
Lions Clubs International is a network of volunteers whose humanitarian and humanist actions contribute to the well-being of humanity while respecting the dignity and freedom of each individual.
Each Lions Club works toward its own objectives as part of five international causes. These include the environment, and the Lions Club Béziers Doyen (34) has thus chosen to contribute to the canal du Midi replanting project.
Soroptimist
Soroptimist is a service club and a global network of professional women. It is present in fifty European countries, with 125 clubs in France alone. There are two clubs in Toulouse: the first is called Club de Toulouse and was founded in 1937, and the second, Club Toulouse Ariane, was launched in 1993. Led by Suzanne Noël, a cosmetic surgeon who repairs “broken faces,” it is a women’s charity that brings professional women together to help local, national and international communities promote human rights and the status of women.
Lilo
Lilo is a search engine that funds solidarity projects through internet users’ online searches. Every month, 50% of the money generated by its internet searches goes toward solidarity projects. The other 50% is used to keep Lilo running. Replanting the canal du Midi is one of the projects that internet users can support by using Lilo. To date, more than €200 has been raised for the replanting project thanks to Lilo.
CanalissimÔ Portiragnes
The CanalissimÔ festival in Portiragnes is a must-see cultural event that takes place every June on the banks of the canal du Midi at the Portiragnes lock.
The festival, which was launched in 2009, has featured over 100 free shows and 27,000 spectators in its 11 editions.
Each year, the festival donates to the Canal du Midi replanting project.
