Pay a little, eat a lot, to raise money for research on Charity BBQ Day - Saturday, May 12, 2012!

Join M&M Meat Shops and CCFC to help find the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

TORONTO, April 19, 2012 /CNW/ - On Saturday, May 12, 2012, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., visit any of the more than 450 M&M Meat Shops locations across Canada to support the 24^th Annual M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day benefiting Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC).

M&M Meat Shops' franchisees, staff and thousands of volunteers from coast-to-coast will be manning their grills to meet the 24^th Anniversary Charity BBQ Day fundraising goal of $1.5 million. Supporters will receive a hamburger or hot dog, a drink and a bag of chips for a minimum donation of $3.  All food and time is donated, so every penny raised goes directly to CCFC Crohn's and colitis research.

For an additional $2, supporters can cool down by purchasing a delicious M&M Meat Shops Strawberry Shortcake Bar with proceeds donated to CCFC.

Canada has among the highest incidence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - two similar yet distinct conditions also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - in the world. Despite this high incidence, IBD is still veiled in silence and shame.  There are more than 200,000 Canadians suffering from IBD. It is a painful and unpredictable disorder. There is no known cause or cure and the number of cases continues to grow.

This year, M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day is pleased to have 12-year-old Landon Lafond as a CCFC representative for the event. Landon understands all too well what it's like to live with IBD: "I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease three years ago," says Landon. "I love to volunteer and have been proud to help raise money for Crohn's and colitis research by helping out at M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day, as well as participating in CCFC's Gutsy Walk. M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day is an important way to raise money and awareness for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and hopefully, help kids like me feel better."

Breaking Records for a Cure

From humble beginnings, M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day has grown into CCFC's largest annual fundraising activity by any single supporter. Over the past 23 years, M&M Meat Shops has raised more than $21.5 million for medical research dedicated to finding a cure for IBD.

The money raised through events such as Charity BBQ Day has allowed CCFC to fund more than $71 million in medical research projects. Charity BBQ Day began in 1989, when Mac Voisin, Founder of M&M Meat Shops learned that Canadians suffer from IBD at an unusually high rate.  He quickly realized that he had the unique opportunity to help raise awareness and funds for a little known, and even less spoken-about condition and Canadian charity.  Charity BBQ Day was born and CCFC gained both a corporate sponsor and a public voice.  Over the past 23 years, Charity BBQ Day has grown rapidly.  Last year, $1.5 million was raised and this year the goal is also set at $1.5 million.

"What began in 1989 with just a handful of stores has evolved into a national event at more than 450 M&M Meat Shops locations across Canada.  We are celebrating 23 years of fundraising for CCFC and Charity BBQ Day has definitely become an expression of who we are as a company. The commitment of our franchisees and volunteers in communities from coast-to-coast is phenomenal and we thank everyone for their dedication," says Mac Voisin.  "Our goal is to help find a cure so that our event can become an annual celebration of the cure for IBD."

$3 Hamburgers Help Find a Cure

"We are extremely grateful to those who support M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day," says CCFC CEO Kevin Glasgow.  "Our 23-year-partnership with M&M Meat Shops has made an enormous difference in our effort to find a cure for IBD. The generous donations, combined with the hard work of thousands of volunteers, raise a significant portion of our annual research funds in just one day."

The money raised through Charity BBQ Day is invested into IBD research, which includes:

• Investing in the most talented IBD disease researchers in Canada;
• Reporting on the incidence and prevalence of IBD in Canada and the economic and social impact of this disease on patients, their families and the Canadian health care system;
• Funding collaborations involving various researchers and research centres to find the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Be a Star, Buy a Star!

From Friday, March 30 until Sunday, May 13, Canadians can also support IBD research by purchasing and signing a Star either in-store at any M&M Meat Shops or online at ccfc.ca/star.

There are three great ways to be a SUPERstar for CCFC:

• For $2, supporters will receive a Star and a chance to win a $500 M&M Meat Shops gift card;
• For $3, supporters will receive a Star, an M&M Meat Shops Blossom Pastry and double their chance to win a $500 M&M Meat Shops gift card;
• For $5, supporters will receive a Star, a coupon book worth more than $50 in M&M Meat Shops savings and triple their chance to win a $500 M&M Meat Shops gift card.

Canadians can also buy a Star online:

• Supporters will be able to personalize their Star, receive an exclusive coupon offer redeemable at M&M Meat Shops stores (Free apple pie with a $30 minimum purchase - see coupon or store for details), a tax receipt, their own printable Star, as well as see their Star on the site's virtual Walk of Stars for a minimum $15 online donation.

Online Facebook fans and friends of both M&M Meat Shops and CCFC are also encouraged to share pictures of the Star they have purchased, tell the story of who their Star is honouring and forward their Star to their friends and family.

Proud Partners

A Kitchener-based business, M&M Meat Shops opened its first store in 1980. Over the past 30 years, the chain has grown to more than 450 locations across Canada.  M&M Meat Shops offers hundreds of meal ideas for today's busy families in just one aisle, with products ranging from succulent steaks to delicious desserts and convenient meal ideas.  For more information on M&M Meat Shops or for tips on hundreds of meal ideas visit www.mmmeatshops.com.

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) is a volunteer-based, registered national charity dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.  The Foundation is also committed to educating IBD patients, their families, health professionals and the general public about the diseases.  For more information about CCFC, please visit www.ccfc.ca.

Or to find the store nearest you, please contact Ive Balins or Adriana Lurz at Strategic Objectives.
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone];
Email: [email protected].