Mel's Diner to support Barbara's Friends on National Best Friends Day June 8
The Floridant/10233716

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- Mel's Diner is offering a way for patrons to show support for children with cancer by hosting Burgers for Barbara's Friends. On June 8, which is also National Best Friends Day, Mel's Diner restaurants in Southwest Florida will donate 50% from the sale of four different burgers on the menu to Barbara's Friends, the cancer fund for Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.

The fundraiser will help ensure that programs and services are available for local children diagnosed with cancer at the hospital. Cancer support includes assisting with the cost of treatment, medications, mental health counseling, therapies and the addition of specialty services like pediatric neurosurgery for children with brain cancer — saving families the anxiety and expense of transporting a critically ill child to Tampa or Miami.

Participating Mel's Diner locations include:

• Mel's Diner Fort Myers – 4820 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907
• Mel's Diner Cape Coral – 1331 Pine Island Rd NE, Cape Coral, FL 33909
• Mel's Diner Naples – 3650 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, FL 34103
• Mel's Diner Golden Gate – 12035 Collier Blvd, Naples, FL 34116

For 18 years, Mel's Diner held the Helping Kids with Cancer Radiothon, donating nearly $1 million through the years to Barbara's Friends. The event is no longer being held, and another fundraiser for Barbara's Friends, Clips for Cancer, was cut short in 2022 by Hurricane Ian.

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"We are so grateful to Mel's Diner for stepping up again to support children with cancer with this promotion," said Amy Frith, Sr. Director, Barbara's Friends - Children's Cancer Fund for Golisano Children's Hospital. "What better way to be a best friend to a kid with cancer then to enjoy a tasty burger with your friends and give back at the same time."

The Barbara's Friends fund has a 28-year history of helping kids with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders, ensuring that no child is denied treatment due to a family's inability to pay. Barbara's Friends raises roughly one million dollars annually to support lifesaving services, programs and equipment for the young patients at Golisano Children's Hospital to ensure no family has to face a cancer diagnosis alone. Fundraisers like these are key to the success of the program. https://leehealthfoundation.org/event/burgers-for-barbaras-friends/