Facebook Group’s Gord Downie Fundraising Plans Questioned

While Gord Downie’s illness is a tragedy, it’s been heartening to see so many grassroots campaigns come together. So many fans are working hard to raise money for a variety of Gord-related causes, including the Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook. I’ve been personally in touch with several of then, including In Gord We Trust and #Courage for Gord. These sites (and several others) are selling Gord- and Hip-related merchandise with the band’s blessing and are forwarding whatever proceeds they get to the appropriate places.

But then there’s Gord Downie Strong, a Facebook page whose administrator(s) might be in Vancouver. They were selling Gord t-shirts for $24.99 and claiming that the money was going to the Sunnybrook fund.

According to Sunnybrook, they haven’t seen a dime from Gord Downie Strong even though the site issued a tax receipt with an address of 298 Robson St. in Vancouver. That address is the site of a restaurant named Original Joe’s. They say they have no idea what’s going on and that no one else shares that address. After the Toronto Star investigated, the Facebook page disappeared.

Another thing: Don’t even think of making up your own shirts with the Jaws imagery. That’s the property of Universal Pictures.

Buyer beware, people.