A&W Canada and the MS Society of
Canada thank restaurants and
guests from coast to coast for their support
VANCOUVER, Sept. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - A&W Food Services
of Canada Inc. is proud to announce that its 7th annual
Cruisin' to End MS campaign raised an astounding
$1.5 million – the most ever
collected through this campaign – to help Canadians living with
multiple sclerosis. One dollar from
every Teen Burger® sold across the country on August 27th, in addition to funds
collected in donation mugs, through paper cutout sales and online
went to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. A&W's dedicated operators,
energetic staff, and loyal guests have now raised $8 million over 7 years to support people living
with MS and MS research in Canada.
"Through our 840 A&W restaurants, we are extremely pleased
to partner with the MS Society to raise awareness about multiple
sclerosis, which affects 1 in 280 Canadians, and fundraise toward
supporting those with the disease, including funding leading-edge
research," says Paul Hollands,
Chairman and CEO, A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. "On
behalf of A&W, I offer heartfelt thanks to all our operators,
staff and guests for supporting this campaign, and sending it to
new heights."
Uniting Canadians from coast to coast to support a great cause,
A&W restaurants across the country hosted their own Cruisin'
to End MS activities, which ranged from serving A&W Root
Beer® floats in Prince George,
B.C., to hosting a live blues band in Sudbury, Ont., to holding a massive classic
car and hot rod show, featuring 400 vehicles, in St. John's, N.L.
"The astounding support from the A&W family, individuals and
communities across the country has made Cruisin' to End MS
the successful event it has grown to be over the last seven
years," says Yves Savoie, President and CEO, Multiple
Sclerosis Society of Canada. "The
$1.5 million raised in 2015 proves
that Canadians are invested in the fight to put an end to MS –
Canada's disease – and we couldn't
be more grateful."
For a third year in a row, Grande
Prairie's A&W located at 12205 - 100 St. was the top
fundraising restaurant in Canada,
raising nearly $40,000 this year. On
August 27th, Hollands and
Savoie personally visited this restaurant, as well as other
top-fundraising restaurants across Canada to thank the operators, staff and
guests for supporting this campaign.
Canada has the highest rate of
multiple sclerosis in the world, with more than 100,000 individuals
living with MS, making it Canada's
disease. 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. Most
commonly diagnosed in young adults 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.
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. With 840 locations, A&W was
recently voted the nation's best-tasting burger restaurant. They
are also the first and only national burger chain to serve beef
raised without the use of steroids or hormones. For more
information, please visit awguarantee.ca.
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.
SOURCE A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.