MEDIA ALERT - A&W's 9th Annual Burgers to Beat MS Campaign, Supporting the MS Society of Canada, Kicks Off with Help from Soccer Superstar Christine Sinclair

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

VANCOUVER, Aug. 23, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world, 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, memory, balance and mobility.

A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. is getting behind this issue in a significant way with its annual campaign Burgers to Beat MS. On Thursday, August 24^th, $2 from every Teen Burger^® sold goes to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada to help the one in 340 Canadians with MS and their loved ones who are affected by this disease. Since 2009, this campaign has raised more than $9 million to support world-class MS research, programs and services that aim to improve quality of life for Canadians living with the disease.

Now in its ninth year, we are pleased to have the support of two-time Olympic bronze medalist and Canadian women's national soccer team captain Christine Sinclair, whose mother, Sandi, lives with MS. Sinclair will share her story, and meet staff and guests at A&W restaurants in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal during the campaign. Other fundraising events will be held at the almost 900 A&W restaurants across the country.

 

In addition to buying a Teen Burger^® on August 24^th, 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. As well, supporters can help raise awareness through using #BurgersToBeatMS on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and using the Burgers to Beat MS Snapchat filter.

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. Although the cause of this often-disabling disease is still not known, researchers are learning more about what causes MS and are bringing us closer to finding the answer. The MS Society offers programs and services for people with MS and their families; its affiliated MS Scientific Research Foundation is among the largest funders of MS research globally.

SOURCE A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.

For further information: Brenda Jones, Hoggan & Associates, bjones@hoggan.com, C: 604.312.1070; Jennifer Asselin, MS Society of Canada, jennifer.asselin@mssociety.ca, T: 416.922.6065 ext. 3144

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