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Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Northern Lights Health Foundation and McDonald’s Fort McMurray are celebrating another successful McHappy Day with a special visit from Ronald McDonald to the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre on Friday, Aug. 7. Ronald’s visit will begin with a cheque presentation for over $24,000 raised by the McDonald’s restaurants in Fort McMurray from this year’s McHappy Day, followed by visiting children receiving care at the Health Centre. The funds raised will support children with special needs in the Wood Buffalo region.
“McHappy Day is a time for us to celebrate families in communities across the country, and to team up with our incredibly generous customers to support noble charities, like the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre,” says Rod Halladay, McDonald’s Director of Operations, Western Canada. “We are very grateful to our guests and volunteers, and proud of our staff who helped make this year’s McHappy Day such a success.”
On McHappy Day, more than 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants across Canada donated one dollar from every Big Mac® sandwich, Happy Meal® and any hot McCafé® beverage sold to benefit Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children’s charities. In addition, many restaurants ran fundraising events and activities throughout the year to generate additional funds for their charities of choice. More than $4.6 million was raised on this year’s McHappy Day for a grand total of over $50.8 million since the inception of the beloved national fundraising event to support Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children’s charities.
“The Health Foundation is so grateful for the continued support and generosity of McDonald’s restaurants in Fort McMurray. Their support continues to have a tremendous impact on the health and wellness of children in our community,” says Susanne Chaffey, Executive Director of the Health Foundation. “We’d also like to thank the community and our volunteers for their astounding support of McHappy Day, which is key to the continued success of this event!”
A portion of the funds raised from the recent McHappy Day will purchase new therapeutic tools for children receiving care through the Allied Health Department of the Health Centre. Allied Health provides occupational, physical, and speech and language therapies to children with various developmental needs. The focus of treatment is to increase their level of participation and functioning in their daily lives. Therapy relies heavily on the use of toys and equipment, which are in constant need of maintenance and replacement. The remaining funds will be used to enhance patient rooms on the Pediatrics Unit, ensuring a comfortable environment for children with autism, mental illness and developmental delays.
About the Northern Lights Health Foundation
Established in 1985, the Northern Lights Health Foundation exists to provide funds to support health care priorities within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The Health Foundation is proudly accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. For more information, visit www.northernlightshealthfoundation.ca.
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For more information, please contact:
Amelia Schofield
Stakeholder Relations and Communications Officer
Northern Lights Health Foundation
Tel: 780-788-1324 Cell: 780-788-5247 Email: amelia.schofield@albertahealthservices.ca
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