$2 from every Teen Burger^® sold across Canada on August 24^th will go towards helping those with MS

VANCOUVER, Aug. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. celebrates Burgers to Beat MS day on Thursday, August 24^th to help Canadians living with multiple sclerosis (MS). This year, A&W has increased their donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, now generously donating $2 from every Teen Burger^® sold across the country on this day. Additionally, we have the support of two-time Olympic bronze medalist and Canadian women's national soccer team captain Christine Sinclair, whose mother, Sandi, is among the one in 340 Canadians living with MS. Sinclair will share her story and meet staff and guests at A&W restaurants in Vancouver on August 23^rd and Toronto and Montreal on August 24^th.

"I'm excited to be a part of this campaign," says Sinclair. "I've always wanted to do something to make a difference for people, like my mom, who are living with MS, and I feel like this is a great start."

Since 2009, A&W's dedicated operators, enthusiastic staff, and loyal guests have raised more than $9 million to support world-class MS research, and programs and services that aim to improve quality of life for Canadians living with the disease. Burgers to Beat MS is the single largest annual corporate fundraiser for the MS Society of Canada.

On August 24^th, the nearly 900 A&W restaurants across the country will host Burgers to Beat MS events – many featuring the Great A&W Root Bear^®, A&W Root Beer^® floats, music, games and other fun activities. Anyone can get involved and join the #BurgersToBeatMS conversation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Also, a special Burgers to Beat MS Snapchat filter will be available to Canadians on the day.

In addition to buying a Teen Burger^®, supporters can also donate through rounding up their bill at the register, purchasing $1, $2 and $5 paper cutouts, placing money in in-store donation mugs, participating in local restaurant fundraising initiatives, and online at BurgersToBeatMS.ca. A&W will also donate $2 to the MS Society for every share on Facebook (up to $40,000) of the Burgers to Beat MS online video launched today featuring Christine Sinclair and affable A&W spokesperson Allen—from A&W's TV commercials. The video is on A&W's Facebook page.

"We are thrilled by the continued generosity of the A&W family and their guests each year, as we work together to help raise awareness and support for those affected by MS," says Valerie Hussey, Chair, Board of Directors, MS Society of Canada. "During our nine-year partnership with A&W we've seen Burgers to Beat MS evolve. The significant contribution of more than $9 million donated throughout the campaign has helped improve the lives of tens of thousands of Canadians through research, treatments, programs and services. We encourage everyone to join A&W in their commitment to beat MS on August 24^th."

Burgers to Beat MS creates an opportunity for people across the country to come together to support Canadian-led efforts to better understand MS and find a cure, while enjoying a delicious Teen Burger^®.

"I am proud of how this important fundraising initiative has grown through the years thanks to the strong support and dedication of A&W's operators, employees and guests, so that those living with MS can benefit from ongoing research efforts and receive the support they require," says Paul Hollands, Chairman and CEO of A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. "We need everyone's support to reach our goal of raising $2 million this year, which is why we are asking Canadians to join us on August 24^th to help beat MS by buying a Teen Burger^®, making a donation, and encouraging others to do the same."

Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world, 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, memory, balance and mobility. It is commonly diagnosed in individuals aged 15 to 40, and in Canada, women are three times more likely to develop MS than men.

The cause of MS remains a mystery and as of today, there is no cure, but each day researchers are learning more about what causes MS and ways to prevent it. Support from A&W allows the MS Society to further innovative research efforts, better support people living with MS, and shows Canadians that if we work together we can create a better quality of life for people living with this disease. 

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 chain with nearly 900 locations across the country. From 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^®. For more information, please visit aw.ca.

The MS Society of Canada is dedicated to finding a cure for multiple sclerosis by funding leading-edge research and improving the quality of life of those affected by the disease. The MS Society offers programs and services for people with MS and their families, and its affiliated MS Scientific Research Foundation is among the largest funders of MS research in the world. Please visit mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 to make a donation or to learn more about the latest in MS research and programs in your area. Join the conversation and connect with the MS community online – find @MSSocietyCanada on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.

SOURCE A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.