Family Tragedy of the Founder of McDonald's Sweden Told in Emotional Film

NORD DDB's new film for McDonald’s tells the story behind the first Ronald McDonald House in Sweden.

In the film we get to meet Paul Lederhausen who founded McDonald’s in Sweden. In 1990, he and his wife Iréne, started the Swedish chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities, in memory of their daughter Erica who suffered from cystic fibrosis and passed away in 1976. The film is based on chapters from Lederhausen's autobiography and follows Erica from her birth to her passing and how her parents handle her grief by starting the fund. In 1993, Sweden's first Ronald McDonald House was completed next to Huddinge Hospital. Today, there are five Ronald McDonald Houses around Sweden, and because of them, over the years more than 50,000 families have been able to live close to the care their children need. McDonald’s is the largest financier of the Houses' operations and annually makes a large fundraising campaign through its restaurants.

The film will air on digital channels, TV and in cinemas. It was developed by NORD DDB and produced by the Social Club with Simon Kaijser as the director.

"It is with pride and a lot of emotion that we present this film. Paul, Iréne and Erica's life and history have touched us all. We hope to be able to create interest among our guests into contributing to the fundraising we have at the restaurants, and together with us support the Ronald McDonald House Charities in the important work they do for sick children and their families," says Staffan Ekstam, McDonald’s marketing director in Sweden.