Norkem Corner community comes together for National Cupcake Day 2026

What started with a simple cupcake once again brought the community together for something much bigger: to bring hope, comfort and support to children fighting cancer.

On September 26, Norkem Corner was filled with cupcakes, smiles and incredible community spirit as residents, families, volunteers, bakers and local businesses came together for National Cupcake Day 2026, an initiative of Cupcakes of Hope.

For everyone involved, it was about much more than selling cupcakes. It was about knowing that every cupcake sold and every donation made contributes towards helping children with cancer and their families through an incredibly difficult journey.

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“Funds raised through National Cupcake Day help Cupcakes of Hope provide practical, financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families.

“This includes assistance with medical and treatment-related needs, hospital care and activity bags, birthday gifts for young cancer patients, essential equipment such as wheelchairs, and support for paediatric oncology wards,” said National Cupcake Day coordinator Letisha Pretorius.

Cupcakes of Hope’s work reaches children across South Africa, including the country’s 21 paediatric oncology wards. Behind every number, however, is a child and a family: a child spending time in hospital instead of at home, a parent trying to cope with the emotional and financial challenges of having a child with cancer, and a family that needs to know they are not facing the journey alone.

That is what made the day at Norkem Corner so special.

Pretorius shared that the success of the day would not have been possible without the generosity of the local community and the businesses that stepped forward to support Cupcakes of Hope.

“A very special thank you goes to Lindsay Learning Centre, who sponsored breakfast snack boxes for our volunteers. Starting a busy day of baking, selling and fundraising with a thoughtful breakfast meant so much to our team and was a wonderful reminder that the people behind the event matter too.

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“A huge thank you also goes to Nando’s, who generously sponsored lunch for our volunteers. Keeping a team of volunteers going throughout a busy fundraising day takes more than enthusiasm, and their generosity helped us keep everyone fuelled and ready to continue doing what they do best – helping,” Pretorius added.

Cupcakes of Hope expressed how incredibly grateful they are to Checkers, who generously donated 100 cupcakes to the National Cupcake Day campaign. Those cupcakes became an important part of the fundraising effort and helped Cupcakes of Hope raise even more funds.

These may seem like three very different contributions – breakfast, lunch and cupcakes – but together they represent something much bigger: local businesses choosing to invest in their community and help make a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer.

“To our bakers and volunteers, this would not happen without you. An event like National Cupcake Day cannot happen because of one person. To every baker who gave their time, ingredients, creativity and love, thank you. Every cupcake represented hours of preparation and a heartfelt decision to help a child fighting cancer.

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“To our wonderful volunteers, thank you for giving up your time and energy. From packing and transporting cupcakes to setting up, serving customers, handling donations and taking care of all the behind-the-scenes jobs, your dedication made the day possible.

“You arrived ready to work, you kept going when things became busy, and you gave your time simply because you wanted to help. You are the heart of this event and to our community, thank you,” Pretorius further added.

Gratitude was extended to the families and friends of Cupcakes of Hope who supported the organisation throughout the campaign.

Norkem Corner and the Kempton Park community were also thanked, as well as every person who bought a cupcake, made a donation, shared Cupcakes of Hope posts, encouraged the team or stopped to support the cause. Every contribution mattered.

The beauty of National Cupcake Day is that nobody has to make a huge contribution to make a difference. One person buys a cupcake, another donates ingredients, someone spends hours baking, a volunteer gives up their Saturday, a business sponsors breakfast, another provides lunch, and another donates 100 cupcakes. Individually, these may seem like small acts, but together, they become something extraordinary.

“The funds raised through National Cupcake Day will help Cupcakes of Hope continue providing much-needed practical, financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families. For a child going through cancer treatment, that support can mean more than we may ever realise.

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“It can mean a hospital care bag to brighten a difficult day, a birthday gift when they cannot celebrate normally, essential equipment when their family needs it, financial assistance when the costs become overwhelming and, perhaps most importantly, it can mean knowing that people they have never even met are standing behind them,” Pretorius said.