Skip to content

Pay a little, eat a lot, to raise money for research on Charity BBQ Day Saturday

Join Campbell River’s M&M Meat Shop on Saturday to support the 23rd Annual M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada

Join Campbell River’s M&M Meat Shop on Saturday to support the 23rd Annual M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ Day benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC).

On May 7, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., M&M Meat Shops’ franchisees, staff and thousands of volunteers from coast-to-coast will grill hamburgers and hot dogs to meet the 23rd Anniversary Charity BBQ Day fundraising goal of $1.6 million. Supporters will receive a hamburger or hot dog, a drink and a bag of chips for a minimum donation of $2.50. All food and time is donated, so every penny raised goes directly to the CCFC for its research programs.

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

Canada has among the highest incidence of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the world, two similar yet distinct conditions also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The public profile of these “taboo” diseases, however, continues to be low.  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 being supported by Amanda Holmes, daughter of Canada’s Most Trusted Contractor Mike Holmes.  Amanda was diagnosed with Crohn’s as a teenager.

“My dad is an expert at home renovation and construction.” says Amanda. “But when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease even he didn’t have the tools to fix me.  At this point, nobody does and that’s why both of us are proud to support the CCFC.  M&M Meat Shops Charity BBQ is an important way to raise funds and awareness for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.”

“There are few things harder than seeing your child in pain,” says Mike Holmes.  “I appreciate every dollar donated to the CCFC.”

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 22 years, M&M Meat Shops has raised more than $20 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 $65 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 the CCFC gained both a corporate sponsor and a public voice.  Over the past 22 years, Charity BBQ Day has grown rapidly.  Last year, $1.6 million was raised and this year the goal is also set at $1.6 million.

“What began in 1989 with just a handful of stores has evolved into a national event at more than 465 M&M Meat Shops locations across Canada,” 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.

The money raised through Charity BBQ Day is invested into IBD research.