A&W and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Team Up to End MS with the
2nd Annual Cruisin' for a Cause

On Thursday, August 26 $1 from every Teen Burger(R) sold across Canada donated to the MS Society

VANCOUVER, Aug. 25 /CNW/ - A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. (TSE: AW.UN) celebrates its second annual Cruisin' for a Cause Day tomorrow to benefit and raise awareness for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. One dollar from every Teen Burger(R) sold across the country on Thursday, August 26 will be used to end MS.

More than 700 A&W restaurants across Canada will host Cruisin' for a Cause (or Journée Rétro as it is known in Quebec) through a variety of events including classic car gathering, retro music, car hop service and car hop relay races, hula hoop contests and Great A&W Root Bear(R) visits.

"A&W and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada challenge all franchisees, employees, customers and cruisers to beat last year's total of $400,000 raised to end MS. A&W franchisees and employees were thrilled with the results of last year's event and support this worthy cause while celebrating our customers' love of great food, classic cars, and fun summer memories at A&W," said Paul Hollands, President and CEO of A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.

"The MS Society of Canada is thrilled to join forces with A&W for the second year running to raise funds to support our mission and to build awareness of a disease that touches one in two Canadians," says Yves Savoie, president and chief executive officer for the MS Society of Canada. "Last year's campaign was an unqualified success and we are looking forward to raising the bar even higher in 2010."

Canada has one of the highest incidence rates of multiple sclerosis in the world - research and support for people with MS and their families is critical. Multiple Sclerosis is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada.

Founded in 1948, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is the only national organization in Canada that supports both MS research and services for people with MS and their families. Proceeds from the event will fund research to end multiple sclerosis as well as provide services for people impacted by MS today.

Cruisin' for a Cause creates an opportunity for Canadian baby boomers who grew up enjoying warm summer evenings in their cars at A&W drive-ins - often with the radio blaring and trays of Teen Burgers(TM), onion rings and icy cold A&W Root Beer delivered by car hops - to revisit those fond memories, enjoy classic, muscle and hot rod cars and while supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Cruisin' for a Cause is a fundraising event affiliated with A&W's national Cruisin' the Dub program, which began over ten years ago at a grassroots level in various communities. It was created by baby boomer classic car enthusiasts who enjoyed gathering at A&W to share their passion for their vintage autos. A&W will hold more than 5,000 Cruisin' the Dub events this season.

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 restaurant company with 713 locations coast-to-coast. A&W Restaurants feature famous trade-marked menu items such as The Burger Family(R), Chubby Chicken(R), and A&W Root Beer(R). For more information, please visit www.aw.ca.

About multiple sclerosis and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. It is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada. 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. 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 www.mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582 to make a donation or for more information.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Alex Chapple, Hoggan & Associates, [email protected], T: 604.742.4264, C: 604.512.6095 OR Stewart Wong, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, [email protected], T: 416.967.3025, C: 416-575-3025