WATCH: It's a McHappy Day in Cochrane

The community is rallying around the annual McHappy Day at the two McDonald's locations in Cochrane that continues until midnight on May 8.

Owner/operator Kendall Somers says it's probably their favourite day of the year for their locations here as well as Canmore and Banff.

"McHappy Day is an opportunity for us to give back to the communities, get the communities into the restaurant and support families with sick children."

Somers says they had already raised about $16,000 prior to today's event and by the end of the day they hope to reach between $25,000 and $30,000 in support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). About a month in advance, they started collecting donations, selling hearts you'll see spread throughout their restaurants as well as McDonald's socks. On McHappy Day a percentage of the day's sales is added.

Somers says it wouldn't be possible without the support of the community.

"We get a lot of volunteers and that's what makes it so successful," he says, "not just the team that we have in the restaurant, but the volunteers within the community. We wouldn't be able to do it without all of them."

An estimated 65 per cent of Canadians live outside a city with a children’s hospital. So, when a child gets sick and needs to be hospitalized, families often have to travel hundreds of kilometres for the treatment and support their child needs. It is a difficult and unexpected journey. 

At Ronald McDonald Houses and Family Rooms, families are given a caring place to stay close while their child is being treated at the nearby hospital. With bedrooms, kitchens, quiet spaces to be together and a loving and supportive atmosphere, RMHC truly becomes a home away from home for our families.

Among the many special guests at both Cochrane locations was Elvis, who posed with customers for photos.