Toronto rock legends Rush will receive next year’s Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award, a Canadian music industry honour that comes with a $40,000 donation to the recipient’s charity of choice.
A month after Canadian Music Week announced that Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart would receive the award, the trio has unanimously decided to give the money to the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital.
“Many Canadian families have been affected either directly or indirectly by this terrible disease,” the band said in a statement on their website. “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.”
The fund was set up earlier this year after the Tragically Hip announced that frontman Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
The hospital plans to use the money to fund research into drugs, surgical techniques and genetic therapies.
Rush will pick up the Allan Slaight Humanitarian prize during the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards gala on April 20 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel.
