June 8th, 2012

The Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Care Center’s gala at the Westin Waterfront hotel was held last night, and special guest Matt Damon was on hand to helm the festivities. Though the event featured a bevy of important people raising money for the Track at The One Hundred charity, Damon made a point of bringing up the fact that he was missing the Celtics game at the TD Garden.

Damon reportedly wore a Celtics jersey on the plane ride from New York City, and acknowledged his desire to get updates on the score for game 6 of the eastern conference NBA finals game between the Celtics and the Miami Heat, throughout the evening. The game was being played at the same time as the gala, not all that far from the hotel.

The gala is the ifth annual fundraiser honoring individuals and groups “whose diligence and discoveries, philanthropy and passion have helped advance the fight against cancer.”

Other attendees included actor Chris Cooper and Teresa Heinz and Senator John Kerry. Damon’s father, Kent, who was also in attendance, was treated by Mass General doctors in 2009 for multiple myeloma.

Damon just finished a project with Newton native John Krasinski called Promised Land. The film follows the story of a natural gas salesman who experiences life-changing events after moving to the small town location of his company’s next business endeavor.

Damon also expressed his fondness for the recently released Funny or Die video starring Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. In it, a clueless Dick’s Sporting Goods customer mistakes the Brady for the actor Cambridge bred Oscar winner.