Cranbrook and Fernie McDonald’s would like to thank the community for its support in helping to raise $13,000 for the East Kootenay Friends of Children charity and the BC Ronald McDonald House.

The funds were raised by our two local McDonald’s restaurants through their participation in the 26th annual McHappy Day, a fundraiser held across Canada.

On Wednesday, May 8, $1 from every Big Mac, Happy Meal and hot McCafé beverage sold went to benefit local children’s charities across the country.

In addition, our local McDonald’s restaurants sold McHappy Day hearts, socks and t-shirts in the weeks leading up to McHappy Day to provide additional support. In Cranbrook and Fernie, all funds raised were split equally between the East Kootenay Friends of Children and the BC Ronald McDonald House.

The East Kootenay Friends of Children is a non-profit organization that provides free and confidential assistance to East Kootenay families that must travel to access medical treatments for their children. Their goal is to relieve some of the emotional and financial strain by assisting with the fuel, accommodation and meal costs associated with these appointments, surgeries and consultations.

Cranbrook and Fernie McDonald’s Restaurants are also making a donation to the BC Ronald McDonald House, located in Vancouver. This facility is a home-away-from-home for the families of children requiring medical treatment at BC Children’s Hospital. The house provides 2,500 out-of-town families with a place to stay every year, many of them from the East Kootenay.

“McHappy Day, which was started in Canada in 1977 and is now celebrated world-wide, is an event that is all about helping and supporting children and their families. This is the heart of who we are and what we do at McDonald’s Canada,” said Cranbrook and Fernie McDonald’s owner/operator David Kaiser. “With the assistance of those in the community, such as the Cranbrook Fire Department and generous business donors, we enjoyed an amazing McHappy Day. We are so pleased to support the East Kootenay Friends of Children in their mandate because they are doing the same thing that Ronald McDonald House Charities do across Canada, which is to offer comfort and help to families when they need it most.”

“East Kootenay Friends of Children is honoured to have been part of this year’s McHappy Day celebration. Our commitment is to ease the burden for families traveling from our region to access medical care for their children and Ronald McDonald House is an integral partner in achieving that,” said Sheila Hall, Executive Director of East Kootenay Friends of Children. “The money that was raised on McHappy Day will directly benefit East Kootenay families. We thank Mr. Kaiser and his staff at McDonald’s as well as the community for coming out to support this event.”

As part of the McHappy Day celebrations, Cranbrook McDonald’s was delighted to be joined by members of the Cranbrook Fire Department, Summit 107FM Radio Station, Cranbrook McDonald’s Coffee Club and volunteers from East Kootenay Friends of Children. These awesome volunteers rolled up their sleeves to work behind the counter and in the lobby on McHappy Day.

Trish Potter from The Painted Frog donated her time and delighted children with her face painting artistry. And Rollie Cummins entertained guests with his guitar.

McDonald’s Restaurant would like to thank the local businesses and individuals for their help in making this year’s McHappy Day such a huge success,

Lead image: (l-r): McHappy Day volunteers Patricia Whalen and Ollie Evans join Sheila Hall, Executive Director of East Kootenay Friends of Children, McHappy Day volunteer James Letcher, Cranbrook and Fernie McDonald’s owner/operator David Kaiser and McDonald’s Community Relations Representative Courtney Magro for a cheque presentation of $6,500 to the East Kootenay Friends of Children charity. A total of $13,000 was raised on McHappy Day and the remaining $6,500 will be sent to the BC Ronald McDonald House. Both of these wonderful charities provide assistance to local families whose children must receive medical attention outside of the East Kootenay. Photo submitted

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