Burgers to Beat MS Day raises $1.6 million for MS Canada

A&W Canada’s 15^th annual Burgers to Beat MS Day, in support of MS Canada, raised $1.6 million this summer.

Since the event’s start, it has raised more than $20 million in total. On Aug. 17, A&W donated $2 from every Teen Burger sold across the country to MS Canada, and customers could also donate online in any amount or round up any purchase.

“For 15 years, Canadians have generously united in support of Burgers to Beat MS Day,” says Susan Senecal, president and CEO of A&W Canada. “ Raising $1.6 million will continue to fund vital MS Canada programming and resources to foster a world free of MS. We look forward to continuing this powerful initiative to make the mission a reality.”

Since the campaign’s first year in 2008, A&W restaurants in towns and cities across Canada have been supporting the cause and continued so in unique ways to celebrate the event’s 15-year milestone. In 2023, there were some standout activities. In Winnipeg, the Portage Avenue A&W built a stage and brought together local musicians to perform live music. In the province of Saskatchewan, Humboldt’s A&W went all out with visits from the brand’s infamous bear mascot, live entertainment from Regina artist JJ Voss, and a raffle and car show. In Amherst, N.S., the community met at the local A&W hosting a yard and bake sale.

To unite Canadians to participate in this year’s Burgers to Beat MS drive, A&W partnered with Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, TJ Brodie and his wife Amber, who has been living with MS for seven years. Despite this life-changing diagnosis, Amber continues to remain positive and finds strength in the support of the program to progress valuable research.

“Even though MS has no known cure, I am confident that one day, we will live in a world free of MS,” says Amber. “The compassion from Canadians I have experienced through Burgers to Beat MS has been overwhelming, and I thank everyone for their generosity.”

“It was an honour and a privilege to help A&W Canada and MS Canada spread the word about the prevalence of MS and how it has personally affected our lives,” says TJ. “Based on the results of this year’s Burgers to Beat MS, Canadians are not only cheering from the sidelines but playing a pivotal role in advancing research and treatments.”