Industrious bakers raise funds for children with cancer

Ask any social entrepreneur about what motivates them, and you are likely to hear the word “passion.”
Ballito resident Sandy Cipriano is no exception.

The Cupcakes of Hope founder has spent the past 9 years raising financial support for children fighting cancer.

“It has become my life’s work,” said Cipriano, who took up the cause after her close friend lost her 3-year-old daughter to cancer.

“Witnessing first hand the tough journey the family went through, including the mountain of medical bills, it just got into my heart to help other families in similar positions,” she said.

Drawing on her restaurant background and industry experience she hosted her first fundraiser and raised R5 000 for one patient.

The following year she raised R50 000 and by the third year Cipriano took on a enormous cupcake challenge.

“We built the largest cupcake mosaic in the Southern Hemisphere and earned ourselves a world record for the most cupcakes on display – a record 21 000.

“Five thousand cupcakes were iced by volunteers and cancer patients and we raised over R200 000 which we donated to The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust.”

Since its inception in 2012 Cupcakes of Hope has raised more than R10 million and assisted over 2 000 families and 16 cancer charities.

The non-profit is community driven whereby volunteers, also known as Cupcake Angels, ‘bake’ a difference in the lives of cancer warriors.

The volunteers bake cupcakes under the Cupcakes of Hope banner and sell them for a donation.

The money raised assists 70 to 90 children every month.

The mother of 2 was inspired while watching an Oprah Winfrey show and experienced a pivotal “aha” moment that set the direction for her charity.

“The episode featured a 15-year-old girl who wanted to make a difference, but she did not have money. Instead she visited old age homes and spoilt the ladies by doing their nails and hair. The epiphany for me was that you do not always need money to make a difference and sometimes all people need is a bit of time and loads of love.”

Cipriano said her ultimate goal is see Cupcakes of Hope being spread across the world.

“Mother Teresa said ‘not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love’.

“In our case it was using our God-given talent for baking cupcakes, and using that to make a difference in a cause we believe in.”

To support Cupcakes of Hope:

Step 1: Register your fundraising event on cupcakesofhope.org.

Step 2: Bake a batch of cupcakes or cookies.

Step 3: Get your friends, family, school or work colleagues to support your fundraiser by making a donation for a treat.

Step 4: Challenge your friends to do the same #BakeAdifference challenge.

Step 5: Share your photos on social media and tag @cupcakesofhope.

Contact Stephanie@cupcakesofhope.org or 079 182 7558.

Visit the Facebook page or website cupcakesofhope.org.