Teen Burger for a great cause: It’s Burgers to Beat MS day at A&W

If you’ve been craving a Teen Burger lately, today is the perfect day to grab one for lunch or dinner.

That’s because it’s the annual Burgers to Beat MS day at A&W, which means $2 from every Teen Burger sold across the country is going to the MS Society of Canada (MS Canada).

Additionally, customers can round up their bill to the nearest dollar today, with those proceeds being donated to the cause as well.

This is the 16th year for A&W’s annual fundraiser, which has raised more than $20 million in that time to support Canadians living with and affected by multiple sclerosis (MS).

MS is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system and, on average, 12 Canadians get diagnosed with the incurable condition each day.

In fact, Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, as more than 90,000 Canadians, or one in every 400 people in the country, live with the disease.

Lizelle Mendoza, an MS Canada ambassador, says she’s been involved with Burgers to Beat MS since 2012 because she knows first-hand how important the cause is.

"I was only 11 years old when I first experienced MS symptoms, but I was not officially diagnosed with MS until much later,” she explained. “I knew a support network would be key in my MS journey and I found that and much more with MS Canada.”

Dr. Pamela Valentine, president and CEO of MS Canada, urges people across Canada to join in on the fundraising efforts today by visiting their local A&W for a Teen Burger.

"The incredible $20M raised since the inception of the program has directly impacted the provision of community-based programming across the country, galvanized advocacy on important issues like access to treatment and care, and enabled research that has led to better health outcomes for those living with this unpredictable disease,” she said.

So don’t bother taking those chicken breasts out of the freezer for dinner tonight, round up the family and head to A&W for Teen Burgers and know you’re supporting a wonderful cause.