Music

Rush donate $40,000 to Gord Downie's Fund for Brain Cancer Research

by Jeremy Mersereau

Rush might never tour again, but that doesn’t mean they won’t keep making valuable contributions to Canadian music. Case in point: they’re donating $40,000 to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Hospital. Sheesh, no wonder they were given Toronto’s key to the city.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Canada’s epochal power trio are going to be the recipients of the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award as part of Canadian Music Week in April 2017. Part of the award stipulates that $40,000 go to the charity of the act’s choice, and so Rush has announced they’ll be sending the money to the Gord Downie Fund.

“We are pleased to direct this generous donation from the Allan Slaight Humanitarian award to the Gord Downie Fund For Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook,” the band said in a statement. “Many Canadian families have been affected either directly or indirectly by this terrible disease. Through Gord’s courageous efforts, this cause is now getting the attention it desperately deserves. As a fellow musician and friend, it’s our turn to help support his efforts to fight brain cancer now.”

“We are thrilled to learn Rush has made such a donation,” said Dr. James Perry, the head of neurology at Sunnybrook. “The funds so generously donated by Rush will support us as we continue our pioneering work, to the benefit of brain cancer patients not only across Canada but around the world.”

The Allan Slaight award will be formally presented to the band at the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards Gala Dinner on April 20, 2017.

[H/T Exclaim!]