THE SWEETEST HIGH NOTE – Cupcakes of Hope raises the bar
South Africa’s sweetest non-profit company Cupcakes of HOPE just rang the bell – bettering the amount raised last year in the fight against children suffering from cancer – hitting the R2 065 807 mark for the first time.
“Thank you to every single person who baked, decorated, volunteered and donated their time and energy towards the making National CupCake day truly the sweetest day of the year. We will be able to bless so many more children in 2018/2019,” said founder Sandy Cipriano.
The event was held simultaneously on September 29 across 79 malls in South Africa and involved thousands of bakers – also known as Cupcake Angels – who began preparations many months before. The event is totally community driven relying on the commitment and resolve of bakers from as young as three years old right up until 90 years old to come together to ‘bake’ a difference in the lives of little cancer patients.
“This was the seventh time that this took place,” said Cipriano who started the charity in 2012. “Our mission is to raise awareness of childhood cancer and funds for kids with cancer who are in need of medical and financial assistance. We do this predominantly through our love of cupcakes.”
“This year we have been truly blessed with the most amazing and delicious cupcakes, all made with love. Last year we raised more than R1.8 million on National Cupcake Day, this year we aimed high and we got it. We had close to 200 000 cupcakes that were pledged – the only requirement being that the cupcakes had to be made with love.”
A Cupcake volunteer Aldah Bungane from Eastrand Mall said “Cupcakes of HOPE has been such an amazing charity, when my little daughter Thabile was diagnosed with cancer they assisted us every month by paying for additional medicine that she needed as well as transport money for us to take her for treatment at Joburg Gen Hospital. I really don’t know where we would be if it was not for these Angels helping us! It makes me happy that I can be here today and help raise more money for families like mine.”
Funds raised will go towards the medical and other day-to-day needs of little cancer patients. Cupcakes of HOPE assist up to 70 patients every month donating medical equipment to hospitals around the country.
“My favourite quote is from Mother Teresa. She said we can’t all do great things, but we can do little things with great love… and that is what Cupcakes of HOPE is all about,” said Cipriano
In 2017 Cupcakes of HOPE set a new Guinness World Record for the Tallest Tower of Cupcakes, 10,7m tall and this year the record is still there. The event raised R300 000 for children waiting to receive stem cell or bone marrow transplants. In addition the charity celebrated Nelson Mandela’s centennial by creating the World’s Largest Mandela – a three metre tall sculpted cake of the Mandela Statue.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Cupcakes of HOPE has designed an infographic with all the early warning signs of childhood cancer, early detection can help save a child’s life. These warning signs are available in all 11 official languages from their website – www.cupcakesofhope.org/
