The Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research has so far raised $265,000, and donations are still pouring in.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre said it has received donations in honour of The Tragically Hip frontman from fans from across the country, and even the United States.
Gord Downie has been seeking treatment at the Toronto hospital. The 52-year-old married father of four has terminal brain cancer, called glioblastoma. It’s an incurable cancer that is among the most common and aggressive brain tumours.
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The band announced Downie’s illness in May, and the launch of their Man Machine Poem tour. While the band has not called it a farewell tour, many fans viewed it as a sendoff to the iconic Canadian band.
Donations can still be made to the fund here. The money will go toward helping the hospital access new tools and technologies to help beat brain cancer.
“Right now we’re investigating new drugs, surgical techniques and genetic therapies. We’re using ultrasound to help drugs reach tumours that couldn’t be reached before. Your support will help us conduct groundbreaking research that benefits patients not only at Sunnybrook, but across Canada and around the world.
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“Sunnybrook and The Tragically Hip thank you for your support.”
The news comes days after the Hip performed the final show of their tour, in front of a hometown crowd in Kingston. The concert, broadcast live on CBC and online, net about 4 million viewers. But when adding up radio, TV and digital, the CBC said an estimated 11.7 million Canadians tuned in at some point during the three-hour concert Saturday night.
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