Dairy Queen locations across the U.S. and Canada came together to support the 4th Annual Miracle Treat Day which raised $4.6 million for Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals. On Miracle Treat Day, Dairy Queens donated $1 or more from every Blizzard sold to local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

All who participate in Miracle Treat Day have special stories to tell. DeLon Mork of Madison, South Dakota, and the team from his Dairy Queen sold 18,000 Blizzards in a town with a population of 6,000 and, for the fourth consecutive year, sold the most Blizzards of any Dairy Queen in North America on Miracle Treat Day.

For Dayton, Ohio, franchisee Drew Hilgeford, Miracle Treat Day truly hits home. His son Alex, who was born with Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome, a disease with multiple symptoms including crippling webbing behind both knees, is a “miracle child.” Alex is treated at The Children’s Medical Center in Dayton.

“The courage, determination and promise of kids like Drew is so inspiring,” says John Gainor, president and CEO of International Dairy Queen Inc. Gainor joined Alex and Drew in Dayton to hand out Blizzards on Miracle Treat Day. “We applaud the enthusiasm and generosity of the entire Dairy Queen family and our customers as they continue to help children and their families in their local communities who face overwhelming odds every day,” he says.

Dairy Queen has been a supporter of Children’s Miracle Network since 1984 and is one of the top five contributors, raising more than $81 million during that time.

Miracle Treat Day 2010 is scheduled for Thursday, August 5 in the U.S. and Thursday, August 12 in Canada.