For one day next month, Bell Media radio station 97.7 HTZ-FM will become HIP-FM.
The St. Catharines, Ont. station is partnering with the Canadian Cancer Society for a one-day celebration of iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip that will also raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
“The Hippest Canada Day Ever” will take place on July 1, with HTZ-FM broadcasting songs from The Tragically Hip’s 13 studio albums alongside live recordings and interview clips.
The station is also urging listeners to donate to cancer research by texting the word “Fight” to 20222, where they have the option of donating $10, $20 or $25. Listeners can donate beginning June 21.
The Tragically Hip are set to embark on a farewell tour in support of their final studio album, Man Machine Poem. Lead singer Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer earlier this year.
Paulanne Jushkevich, the Canadian Cancer Society’s chief philanthropy officer, said that Downie’s form of cancer, glioblastoma, is a prevalent form of brain cancer that is incurable.
According to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, primary brain tumours occur in 8 out of 100,000 people, with approximately 27 Canadians diagnosed with a brain tumour each day and 55,000 Canadians currently living with a brain tumour.
Jushkevich said that research is “desperately needed” in order to save more lives.
CBC announced last week that it would broadcast the band’s final show from Kingston’s K-Rock Arena on Aug. 20. The show will air across CBC Television, CBC Radio One and CBC Radio 2, as well as CBCMusic.ca and the public broadcaster’s YouTube channels.
