Kingston native and Hockey Hall of Fame member Doug Gilmour is spearheading an effort to raise funds in honour of another famous Kingston friend, Gord Downie.

The Tragically Hip lead singer is battling brain cancer.

Gilmour, currently the general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs, is asking his fans to help him raise funds for the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.

The Gord Downie Fund was founded earlier this year by Downie after receiving his cancer diagnosis, with the mission being to give Sunnybrook the funds for research and to explore new surgical techniques to help beat brain cancers that are currently incurable.

Downie went public with his own incurable diagnosis in May.

In return for Gilmour’s fan’s donations, they will have a chance to win a trip to Toronto to attend a National Hockey League game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, March 18, with Gilmour in a private suite at the Air Canada Centre, along with other prizes.

The campaign, “Courage: Let’s Do It For Gordie,” takes its title from one of the band’s iconic songs.

“If there’s one thing Canadians love, it’s hockey.” said Gilmour in a statement. “And The Tragically Hip. We love The Hip. So, when I heard that my friend Gord Downie was facing the biggest challenge of his life, I felt the need to help in the best way I know how: bring together my friends in the hockey community and fans everywhere to support this important cause.”

Gilmour said on Wednesday that he’s been working on the project with a group of people and organizations for quite some time. He also credits The Hip’s manager, Bernie Breen, with helping on the fundraiser.

“That allowed us to step on board with Gord’s help as well,” Gilmour said.

A hockey fan and part-time beer league player, Downie played in the first FebFest Hockey Tournament in 2005 with Gilmour and other NHL players such as Kirk Muller, Marty Turco, Mike Keane and Joe Nieuwendyk. Gilmour remembers Downie playing in the tournament but said they weren’t on the same team.

“Growing up in Kingston, I’ve known these guys a long time and have gone to a lot of shows,” Gilmour said.

Gilmour, 53, spoke of a small-venue concert he attended at the old Iron Horse Saloon in 1998 and, between songs, Downie congratulated Gilmour in front of the crowd on his most recent free agent signing.

“I had just signed my contract with Chicago or agreed that night and he said, ‘Congratulations, you just signed with the Boston Bruins.’”

Downie is a fervent Bruins fan, but Gilmour, who played for seven NHL teams, including the Leafs, never played for Boston.

Gilmour said he got to meet Downie’s physician at Sunnybrook, Dr. James Perry, and talked about the successful summer tour The Tragically Hip went on, despite Downie’s diagnosis.

Portions of the proceeds from the tour went to Sunnybrook.

“It’s pretty remarkable the courage and everything else, no pun intended, what he did for that tour,” Gilmour said.

Perry, a neuro-oncologist and head of Sunnybrook’s neurology program, said donations to the fund will allow Sunnybrook to investigate new drugs, surgical techniques and genetic therapies.

“The support will help us conduct groundbreaking research that benefits patients not only at Sunnybrook, but across Canada and around the world,” Perry said in a statement.

As part of the online fundraising campaign, for a minimum $10 donation participants will be entered for a chance to win the opportunity to attend the game and be eligible for other prizes as well. Also, the winner and guest will receive round-trip flights and two nights in a downtown Toronto four-star hotel.

Depending on how many people donate to the cause, they can access other limited-edition campaign rewards, including some exclusive memorabilia from Gilmour’s personal collection and his own Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Donations to the effort can be made on Boon-Town.com, which is an online fundraising website that works with athletes and teams to support the causes that matter to them.

“Let’s do it for Gordie, for our friends, for our families and everyone who’s been affected by cancer in some way,” Gilmour said.

The campaign was launched Wednesday and will run until the end of the year.

For more information, go online to www.boon-town.com.Boon-Town.com.

imacalpine@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/IanMacAlpine