Earlier this month, Canadian Music Week presented Rush with the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award in recognition of all they’ve done for causes like Doctors Without Borders, United Way, and their local Toronto Food Bank. As part of the prize, the rock legends were given the chance to donate $40,000 to a charity of their choosing. They’ve since decided to give it all to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research.
“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,” Rush wrote on Facebook. “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.”
Gord Downie, co-founder and frontman for alt rock institution The Tragically Hip, was previously diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in May. The band embarked on one final tour over the summer.
