A&W, the A&W Great Root Bear® and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada thank Canadians for incredible support

MONTREAL, Sept. 1, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. (TSE: AW.UN) is proud to announce that the funds raised in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada during its annual Rendez-vous A&W pour stopper la SP held last week on August 25 was over a million dollars.   In total, the national fundraising event has now raised more than $2 million over the past three years to help end MS.

"The ongoing enthusiasm and commitment to this very important cause has been outstanding," said Paul Hollands, president and CEO, A&W Food Services Canada. "On behalf of A&W, I would like to thank and congratulate all of our customers, staff, car clubs and other supporters across Canada who helped us achieve this significant goal."

"This incredible achievement was made possible thanks to the people of A&W who made it their  mission to raise $1 million with tremendous spirit and a deep commitment to the community," said Yves Savoie, president and CEO, MS Society of Canada. "On behalf of all of those touched by MS, I offer heartfelt thanks to the entire A&W family who made this success possible. The funds raised allow us to reach into communities to deliver life-enhancing services and fund research that brings us closer to ending MS every day."

More than 730 A&W restaurants across Canada helped raise funds through the sale of cut-outs, collecting contributions from donation boxes and by donating $1 from every Teen Burger® sold on August 25th.  Le Rendez-vous A&W pour stopper la SP (or Cruisin' for a Cause as it is known in the rest of Canada) raised both funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis through a variety of events including draws and contests and Great A&W Root Bear visits.

Supporters can still text "MS" to 45678 until September 30 to make a $5 donation to the Cruisin' for a Cause campaign.

Canada has one of the highest incidence rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, making research and support for people with MS and their families critical. Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada.

A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. is 100 per cent Canadian owned and is one of the strongest brand names in the Canadian foodservice industry. A&W is the nation's second largest hamburger restaurant company with over 730 locations coast-to-coast.  A&W Restaurants feature famous trade-marked menu items such as The Burger Family®, Chubby Chicken®, and A&W Root Beer®. For more information, please visit www.aw.ca.

About multiple sclerosis and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. It is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40, and the unpredictable effects of MS last for the rest of their lives. The MS Society provides services to people with MS and their families and funds research to find the cause and cure for this disease. Please visit www.mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 to make a donation or for more information.

Image with caption: "Le Rendez-vous A&W pour stopper la SP raised more than $1 million on August 25. The Great A&W Root Bear joins Richard Lemire, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MSSC) National Inspiration Champion; Yves Savoie, President and CEO, MSSC; Paul Hollands, President and CEO, A&W Canada. (CNW Group/A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110901_C8033_PHOTO_EN_2773.jpg