Newcap Halifax stations Q104 and KOOL FM had an overwhelming response to their unique fundraiser for former KOOL and CFDR Program Director Gary Greer.  Greer has Multiple Sclerosis and will be traveling to Mexico in September to receive the controversial new “Liberation” treatment which has not yet been approved in Canada.


The stations cleaned out their old music libraries and made thousands of vinyl albums available for sale to music aficionados and collectors in their Vinyl Garage Sale last Saturday.  Hundreds of music lovers lined up early to get the best selection and carted away armloads of classic albums and rare, seldom heard treasures.

In just 3 hours, fans had happily shelled out $11,399, all of which will go towards the $15,000 it will cost Greer to have this potentially life changing treatment. “I am truly humbled by the level of support I’ve received since I decided to go ahead with the treatment” said Greer.  “"You were a wonderful bunch of people to work for, for many, many years, and you're still a wonderful bunch of people to be friends with. And this will not be forgotten. It means an awful lot." Greer said he has also been receiving support from Newcap as well as individual donations from staff at the radio stations and Newcap head office in Dartmouth.

Even the competition got into the spirit, as CHUM stations C100 and The Bounce went through their vinyl archives and delivered more stax o’ wax.  The Newcap and CHUM stations shared the same building from 1998 until 2009 while Greer was at KOOL FM.  

Another fundraiser is being organized by Greer’s friends in his home community of Cole Harbour on Friday August 27.  “The community has really gotten behind me as well, and I know Friday’s event will bring the total to well over the $15,000 I need” Greer added “I will have additional expenses in the future for travel for follow up testing, and depending on how successful the treatment is, I may still have expenses for accessibility modifications to my home and/or vehicle to deal with, so any extra funds raised will not go to waste.”

Gary leaves for Mexico September 18 and is scheduled for treatment September 20.

JC Douglas, Gary Greer , Anna Zee, Jayme Lynne Butt (Q Promo Co-ordinator), and producers Rod Schofield and Mark Doiron.

Gary Greer, longtime former Program Director of Newcap stations KOOL-FM and CFDR-AM will be traveling to Mexico next month to receive the controversial new “Liberation” treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, with a little help from his friends.

The new treatment, pioneered by Italian doctor Paulo Zamboni, treats a condition called Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI) where jugular veins are partially or totally blocked, restricting proper drainage of blood from the brain.  This condition is reported to be present in over 90% of MS Patients tested.  The new treatment involves using balloon angioplasty to open up these veins to restore normal blood flow.

The CTV news program W5 broke the story of this procedure and its remarkable results over a year ago and since then thousands of people suffering from MS have been clamoring, with little success, to have the treatment made available to them. 

The majority of people who have been liberated show moderate to significant improvement in their mobility and quality of life.  Many are able to get out of their wheelchairs and resume a semi-normal life.  Despite these successes, the treatment involves minimal risk but is considered experimental and is not approved in Canada. As a result, patients are forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars for treatment in foreign countries such as Mexico, USA, Poland and India.

Greer was diagnosed with MS over 10 years ago, and the disease has advanced rapidly over the past 3 years.  He is now confined to a wheelchair the majority of the time, and stopped working at the Halifax station over two years ago.

His friends and former colleagues are trying to help him raise the money needed to be tested and treated with a couple of fund raising events later this month.  In addition to personal donations from staff at the radio stations and Newcap Head Office, Q104 and KOOL are holding a Rock & Roll Garage Sale August 21.  They are clearing out the old record library and selling off the old vinyl to music aficionados and collectors.

Then, on August 27 there will be a fundraising benefit and auction at the Colby Ale House in Cole Harbour.  All proceeds from both events will go towards the cost of Gary’s trip to Mexico and treatment.  He is scheduled for the treatment on September 20th.

Greer’s radio career began 35 years ago at CFOR in Orillia, Ontario. Subsequent stops took him to CFBK Huntsville, CKMP Midland, CKGB Timmins, CFCH North Bay, and CJLB Thunder Bay before finally settling down in Halifax in 1989.

Gary would like to thank all the people who have supported him in this fight.  Any support from former colleagues from the last 35 years would be gratefully appreciated.  Anyone willing to donate can send your support payable to “Gary Greer Benefit Auction”, c/o 83 Ashgrove Ave, Dartmouth, NS, B2V 1G2.

Thank you to everyone for your support, prayers and encouragement!