Local tribute to Tragically Hip raising funds for cancer research

A Newfoundland and Labrador artist's expression of gratitude forThe Tragically Hipis now helping raise funds for cancer research.

• Millions watch Tragically Hip live on CBC

Illustrator and graphic designer, Jud Haynes, has a history with the band.

"They're not a band that I'm particularly buddies with, but at the same time it seems like every few years they've come in and out of my lifein big ways andaffected it in big ways," Haynes told the St. John's Morning Show Monday.

His former group, Wintersleep,toured the U.S.with The Hip in 2007.So it's no surprise he was impacted by the news of singer Gord Downie's terminal brain cancer this spring.

He was among the many who posted tributes to the band leading up to Saturday night's nationally broadcast concert.

Thank You!

On Friday, Haynespublished a blogtitled Remove the "R" and your name would be "GOD". He wrote itas a response to the many other tributes he saidread like eulogies.

"His diagnosis is terrible, of course. But I just kind of felt like if he was reading any of these or his family... he's not done yet."

The response to hisblog was huge, especially to the illustration that came along with it.

"I just felt like the image of saying 'Thank You'would represent us all. AndI started getting hit with a lot of requests from people wanting to buy it."

"Obviously Ifelt really uncomfortable with doing anything that would be profiting from this... So I just said 'No, I won't be selling it.'"

While viewing the concert at afriend's place Saturday night,Haynes saidsomeone brought upThe Gord DownieCancer Research Fund.

"I just wrote them and said, 'Hey I made this thing and you're welcome to use it if you like.'And they wrote me back immediately and were very excited."

You can seeHaynes's visual tribute to The Tragically Hip hereand read his blogatjudhaynes.ca.