TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - Did you know Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world? MS is one of the most common neurological diseases among young adults in the country, attacking the central nervous system, and affecting vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility.

A&W Food Services of Canada Inc., a 100 per cent Canadian-owned company, is getting behind this issue in a significant way with its annual campaign, Burgers to Beat MS, a program to benefit and raise awareness for the one in 340 Canadians living with MS, and their loved ones who are affected by this disease. Now in its 8^th year, the program has raised more than $8 million to support people living with MS as well as MS research in Canada.

Paul Hollands, A&W Chairman and CEO, and Yves Savoie, MS Society of Canada President and CEO, will be kicking off the Burgers to Beat MS campaign with a special launch event at the A&W restaurant located at Mercer and John St. in downtown Toronto. This is A&W's newest location across Canada, which opened August 20, 2016. While at the restaurant, Hollands and Savoie will serve refreshing Root Beer Floats for a minimum donation of $1 to the MS Society of Canada.

This event will kick off A&W's Burgers to Beat MS day, which is taking place the following day, Thursday, August 25, 2016. On this day, $1 from every Teen Burger^® sold across the country will go to the MS Society of Canada.

In addition to joining Hollands and Savoie for a Root Beer Float on August 24 and buying a Teen Burger on August 25, supporters can also donate through the Burgers to Beat MS campaign by rounding up their bill at the register, purchasing $2 paper cutouts, and giving through in-store donation mugs – all of which go towards supporting activities that help people touched by MS. A&W will also donate $1 to the MS Society for every share on Facebook (up to $20,000) of the Burgers to Beat MS online video, featuring A&W spokesperson Allen—a familiar face from A&W's TV commercials. This video is available on A&W's Facebook page.

Click HERE to find your closest A&W restaurant.

Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world, with one in 340 individuals living with MS, making it Canada's disease. MS is one of the most common neurological diseases among young adults, attacking the central nervous system, and affecting vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility. Most commonly diagnosed in individuals aged 15 – 40, even children as young as 2 years old have been diagnosed with MS. Although the cause of this often disabling disease is still not known, researchers are closer to finding the answer. The MS Society of Canada offers programs and services for people with MS and their families, and along with the MS Scientific Research Foundation, is among the largest funders of MS research in the world.

Teen Burgers for a Cause
Each Teen Burger features a seasoned, 100% pure beef patty – raised without the use of hormones or steroids – topped with processed cheddar, mouth-watering bacon from pork raised without the use of antibiotics, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickles, French's Tomato Ketchup and Classic Yellow Mustard and Teen^® sauce on a freshly toasted bun.

About A&W
A&W Food Services of Canada Inc., home of Canada's best-tasting burger^†, 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 860 locations coast-to-coast. A&W is a leader in the Canadian burger industry, serving beef raised without the use of steroids or hormones, chicken raised without the use of antibiotics, eggs from hens fed a vegetarian diet without animal by-products, and pork raised without the use of antibiotics. A&W Restaurants feature famous trade-marked menu items such as The Burger Family^®, Chubby Chicken^®, and A&W Root Beer^®.

About the MS Society of Canada
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 mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 for more information.

Editor's Note: There are a number of restaurant-led activities happening across the country to support the annual Burgers to Beat MS campaign, and your local A&W restaurant and/or MS Society chapter may also send you additional details about the program.

^® Trade-mark of A&W Trade Marks Limited Partnership, used under license
^† 2016 BrandSpark International Best Restaurant Awards

SOURCE A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.