On top of being awarded Toronto's key to the city back in September, Rush were also named as the recipients of the 2017 Allan Slaight Humanitarian Award earlier this month. The Canadian Music Week award will see the band donate $40,000 to the charity of their choice, and the iconic power trio have chosen to donate the funds to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at the city's Sunnybrook Hospital.
"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 wrote 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."
As previously reported, Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer earlier this year. After taking Can-rock counterparts the Tragically Hip across Canada on the "Man Machine Poem" tour this past summer, the songwriter has since released his solo effort Secret Path, out now via Arts & Crafts.
"We are thrilled to learn Rush has made such a donation," Dr. James Perry, head of neurology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said. "The Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research will help give us the tools we need to find ways to treat the untreatable. Right now we are investigating new drugs, surgical techniques and genetic therapies. We are using ultrasound to reach tumours that couldn't be reached before. 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."
Donations to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook can be made here. The award itself will be presented at the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards Gala Dinner on April 20 in Toronto.
As previously reported, Rush will release an expanded 40th anniversary edition of 2112 on December 16 via UMe.
Downie also played Halifax last night (November 29), and you can read Exclaim!'s review of the show here. As reported this morning, he will play We Day today in the city.
"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 wrote 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."
As previously reported, Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer earlier this year. After taking Can-rock counterparts the Tragically Hip across Canada on the "Man Machine Poem" tour this past summer, the songwriter has since released his solo effort Secret Path, out now via Arts & Crafts.
"We are thrilled to learn Rush has made such a donation," Dr. James Perry, head of neurology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said. "The Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research will help give us the tools we need to find ways to treat the untreatable. Right now we are investigating new drugs, surgical techniques and genetic therapies. We are using ultrasound to reach tumours that couldn't be reached before. 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."
Donations to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook can be made here. The award itself will be presented at the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards Gala Dinner on April 20 in Toronto.
As previously reported, Rush will release an expanded 40th anniversary edition of 2112 on December 16 via UMe.
Downie also played Halifax last night (November 29), and you can read Exclaim!'s review of the show here. As reported this morning, he will play We Day today in the city.