Former prime minister Brian Mulroney was the man of the hour Thursday evening, at a fundraiser benefiting the CHUM hospital foundation.
The soiree was meant to be a gala honouring Mulroney for his frequent contributions to the foundation, but Mulroney had other ideas.
He said he would only accept if he could take the opportunity and turn it into a fundraiser for the CHUM.
“I’m happy to do this,” he said, “provided it’s not about me, but about the hospital and the money all goes to the hospital.”
Get weekly health news
Mulroney’s connection to the CHUM is personal.
READ MORE: New cancer-fighting tool in Montreal is a first in Canadian healthcare
He says he is forever indebted to the hospital after one of its doctors, pancreatic surgeon André Roy, saved his life back in 2005.
“They saved my life 14 years ago, so I’m pretty close to them,” he said.
Mulroney says the evening was also a chance to catch up with old friends.
“This was a chance for my friends from around North America to come together and contribute in a major way to a worthy cause,” he said.
READ MORE: How George H.W. Bush and Brian Mulroney teamed up to curb acid rain
Some of the people attending the event were high-profile businessmen such as Stephen Bronfman, Pierre Karl Péladeau and Paul Desmarais Jr.
The event raised $3.6 million.
READ MORE: CHUM’s embryo research could improve IVF treatment in the future
The money will go towards research, innovation, and to support health care.
— With files from Global’s Gloria Henriquez
Comments