Senators GM Bryan Murray to receive United Way's most prestigious honor

murray-bryan-052615-usnews-getty-ftr

Senators general manager Bryan Murray will receive the United Way's most prestigious honor of Community Builder of the Year at its annual gala on Thursday.

"(The honor) has to do with the team, the organization, the Sens Foundation. What the Senators mean to the city," Murray said. "I think I'm a representative of the team more than anything."

MORE: Gary Bettman's CTE denial is mind-blowing | Ken Hitchcock, Blues agree to one more year | Must-see ECF photos

Murray was previously awarded Community Builder of the Year in 2011 for his contributions to the hockey club and the community. The United Way will now honor him a second time for his decision to go public with his fight against stage 4 colon cancer.

"Never one to take the credit, Mr. Murray stayed away from the spotlight preferring to focus on the team and winning hockey games," the United Way wrote in a release, via the Ottawa Sun. "That was until last July when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Instead of keeping the diagnosis private, Mr. Murray chose to share his story to raise awareness and encourage others to get checked. The public battle Mr. Murray is waging against his disease has made him an example of unselfishness, perseverance and dedication."

Murray has been battling colon cancer since last June. He disclosed to TSN last November in his first interview since being diagnosed that "there is no cure" for him.

"Certainly it was hard on my wife and (daughters) to hear on a regular basis that I have terminal cancer," Murray said. "But I thought it was really important — and they did too after I talked to them about it — that we get the idea out there that you have to look after yourself."

Murray, 72, admitted to struggling with the idea of taking his personal battle public, but knew his actions could help spread awareness and potentially save lives.

"It was hard to do, but I've felt I've had a pretty good run with my life, and I had a pretty good opportunity as being the manager of a team like the Ottawa Senators," Murray said. "As I said at the GM meetings to all the GMs: 'We're in a position to be able to present to our communities, wherever we are, thoughts that would help the community.'

"One of the things I thought I could do in particular would be to encourage people to have a colonoscopy. To save lives if you could. It's not me normally (to go public), but I thought this was really a important message."

Murray will continue to have a public platform, as well; he announced last month that he would stay on for another year as Senators GM.

Author(s)