Gainey Foundation collects $1M for lost daughter, late wife

Gainey Foundation collects $1M for lost daughter, late wife: "Gainey Foundation collects $1M for lost daughter, late wife
Last Updated: Friday, August 29, 2008 | 4:54 PM ET Comments4Recommend9
CBC News

Bob Gainey's family has quietly raised close to $1 million for a foundation created in honour of his late daughter Laura, who was lost overboard from a Nova Scotia tall ship almost two years ago.

The Gainey Foundation is also in memory of his late wife, Cathy, who died in 1995 after a five-year battle with cancer.

The Montreal Canadiens general manager visited Halifax on Friday to talk about upcoming exhibition games the Habs will play in the city against the Boston Bruins.

Gainey also planned to meet with a group of friends to discuss a fundraising event for the foundation.

The non-profit organization aims to raise a total of $2 million for various issues, including art therapy, environmental causes and underprivileged children.

The hockey legend says the work of his surviving children and friends on the foundation has been instrumental in helping him heal from his daughter's death.

Laura Gainey was 25 when she was swept off the deck of the Picton Castle, as the ship travelled through a winter storm in the North Atlantic on Dec. 8, 2006. She was working as a deck member on the ship at the time."