Leafs great Doug Gilmour is asking hockey fans across North America to raise funds for a campaign that will benefit Gord Downie鈥檚 brain cancer research fund.
Gilmour is calling on people to donate money through his campaign, , to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. The money will go towards finding a cure for currently unbeatable brain cancers.
The Tragically Hip鈥檚 Downie announced that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumour, in May before going on tour with the band over the summer.
鈥淚 think the biggest thing is just the relationship that I have with the band members,鈥� Gilmour told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning in an emotional interview. 鈥淭his caught us all off guard and the funds are needed for Sunnybrook Hospital.鈥�
A $10 donation to the campaign will enter participants for a chance to win a trip to a Toronto Maple Leafs game and watch it in a box with Gilmour. Other prizes include limited edition T-shirts, a signed custom Gilmour jersey and a chance to win Gilmour鈥檚 personal Harley Davidson by donating $30,000. The deadline to donate is Dec. 30.
According to Gilmour, he鈥檚 been friends with the band members for decades and finds many of their songs inspirational, particularly Courage, which serves as an important aspect of his campaign name and logo.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to see a little crest that says 鈥榗ourage鈥�,鈥� said Gilmour. 鈥淗e showed it and that鈥檚 my favourite song.鈥�
The band鈥檚 last show was in Kingston, Ont. where the singer and Gilmour both grew up. Gilmour said he attended the last concert on the Man Machine Poem tour and said it was 鈥渧ery emotional鈥� and 鈥渋nspirational鈥� watching Downie perform.
鈥淔or me, it was just being a part of it like every other Canadian, whether you were watching on TV or were there to see it live,鈥� said Gilmour.
Downie鈥檚 fund has so far raised $1 million for brain cancer research while almost $400,000 has been donated in Downie鈥檚 name to the Canadian Cancer Society. The money will be used to support clinical trials and research in an effort to find a cure.
According to Gilmour, Downie 鈥渉as his ups and downs鈥� but is doing well.
