THUNDER BAY – The Hunter Burger is actually too big a mouthful for its inspiration to fit into his mouth.
But that didn’t stop eight-year-old Hunter Fernyc from trying.
The youngster, who was diagnosed with the very rare hemophagocytic lymphohisiocytois, has been in and out of hospital since he was born, but despite his struggles, he’s still found time to dedicate to help raise money for the Children’s Health Foundation.
He’s had a Dairy Queen Blizzard named in his honour and his latest creation is the Hunter Burger, a double-double patty with double-double cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, bacon and Heartbeat Hot Sauce, cooked up by the chefs at Beefcake Burger Factory.
“I picked the ingredients and it’s very good,” said Hunter, helping to launch a five-week campaign at the Hodder Avenue restaurant, with the proceeds from sales of his special burger being donated to the Children’s Health Foundation.
“It’s so delicious. Like peace.”
Hunter said it was his experience with making his own Blizzard, combined with a dinner out with his family, that gave him the idea.
Chef Derek Lankinen, who owns Beefcake’s Burger Factory, said he was glad to help out.
“He came in and he crushed a monster two-patty cheeseburger. It was a thing of beauty watching this little human devour all this food. Then we got to talking with his parents and we learned all about Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen,” Lankinen said.
“Then we got to talking about doing a promotion for the Children’s Health Foundation. It all came together super quick.”
It was Hunter who came up with the toppings for his burger creation.
“The Hunter Burger is him, through and through. I added a little bit to it and made it a little bit more like a Beefcake’s burger, but in all actuality, it’s his burger. We’re just selling it for him.”
About 300 to 400 children from Thunder Bay are flown to southern Ontario for treatment at hospitals funded by the Children’s Health Foundation.
Hunter still has annual check-ups at the London Children’s Hospital.
The Hunter Burger will be on sale at Beefcake Burger Factory until the end of March.
