Bake a difference in the life of a child
This year the country will mark the eighth National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer on September 28
Kegan was born with Down Syndrome.
At 18 months old he was diagnosed with cancer that left him paralysed from the waist down. Doctors said he would not make it past his second birthday.
When Cupcakes of Hope heard about his situation they decided to help and took on their first patient. It was 2009.
Now 10 years later, Kegan celebrated his 11th birthday. He had never flown on an airplane or seen the ocean. Cupcakes of Hope decided to give him a birthday he would never forget.
The look of joy on his face as he experienced the sea was something that would stay with you forever.
This year the country will mark the eighth National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer on September 28. Founder Sandy Cipriano calls on everyone to get involved, mark the date in their calendars, start baking and literally make a difference in the lives of children.
Already activations and events have been planned for 88 malls across the country as the non-profit company hopes to better their target reached last year.
Cipriano said she began this journey after her friend lost her three-year-old daughter to cancer. As the owner of a restaurant ‘Rio Sol Portuguese Restaurant” in Vereeniging, South of Johannesburg, she realised that she could do something to change lives.
“The first year we raised R5 000 and helped one little boy. Now we have helped more than 1 500 patients. This is really the sweetest way to help save a life,” she said.
“Cupcakes of Hope aims to creates awareness and raises funds for children with life-threatening diseases. This is achieved through our love for baking cupcakes,” she said.
The funds raised enable the organisation to assist about 70 patients each month to pay for their medical expenses, day-to-day needs like nutritional food and transport money to and from hospital.
“This year we have already registered 65 new patients on our books. Last month we donated R25 000 to 16-year-old Damon for his prosthetic leg and a further R75 000 to Jordan who flew to the USA for his trial treatment,” said Cipriano
Essentially, Cupcakes of Hope is a community-driven project that brings everyone involved to ‘bake’ a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening diseases. Volunteers are called Cupcake Angels and can be anyone.
WORLD RECORDS
Cupcakes of Hope has set a few world records to help create awareness for the cause:
– 2017 – World’s Tallest Cupcake Tower – 10.7m. Here over R300 000 was raised for children waiting for stem cell transplants
– 2018 – Tallest Mandela Cake – This 3m tall Mandela Cake Statue was created in Sandton City to celebrate Madiba’s 100th birthday.
To register to become a baker for National Cupcake Day visit www.cupcakesofhope.org, to find your nearest participating mall and contact the co-ordinator to make your pledge of 24/48 cupcakes. On National Cupcake Day the public can then make a R10 donation for a delicious cupcake made with love.
