Cupcake Angels are ready for the challenge

Locals are in for a treat as East Rand Mall is participating in the much-anticipated National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer on September 28.

This event has taken place since 2012 to raise funds for Cupcakes of Hope, an NPC and PBO that provides assistance and support to the families and children who are diagnosed with cancer.

“We have assisted more than 10 000 patients over the past 10 years,” said Sandy Cipriano, founder of Cupcakes of Hope.

“My husband and I started to raise funds for children with cancer when a friend lost her three-year-old to cancer.

“In 2012, we registered the non-profit Cupcakes of Hope. Since then, via the community-driven National Cupcake Day, over R10 million has been raised to provide for hundreds of young cancer patients and their families every month.

“This includes covering their medical bills and other essential needs, from nappies to nutrition and everything in between. The youngest patient that has been helped was only four months old when first diagnosed.”

Oncologists, hospitals, social workers and hospices all contact Cupcakes of Hope with requests to assist. They also assist with requests from the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)’s Tough Living with Cancer programme that focuses on supporting the parents and caregivers of young cancer patients.

Anina Meiring, CANSA service manager: childhood cancer, said the partnership is a continued strength of support.

The Cupcake Angels (volunteer bakers) are the foundation that supports everything that is done via the NPO. Located around the country, they make and sell cupcakes and donate the funds to Cupcakes of Hope.

Dawn Tiplady, from Randburg, the co-ordinator for East Rand mall will celebrate her 10th National Cupcake Day this year. “We joined after my daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia,” says Tiplady.

“Along Daniella’s treatment journey, she was meeting lots of kids whose parents were financially challenged. I was a single mom, who thankfully had medical aid, but the cost of petrol, medications, special foods, and more, was financially challenging, and Daniella and I really wanted to help. We started at markets, and then at NCD at East Rand Mall.

Although Daniella has found her angel wings, I know that she agrees with my decision to keep helping children with cancer. There is no way to describe how it feels to see faces light up at our hospital visits and to assist the parents deal with what they are going through. Being a ‘momcologist’ I understand what they are going through.”

Tiplady said their goal is to raise R150 000 at the East Rand Mall this year.

“We managed to collect R120 000, and we hope to do better this year. We are focused on selling as many cupcakes as we can,” she said.

The co-ordinator said about 70 volunteers will assist at East Rand Mall.

Tiplady expressed her gratitude towards Arbor Primary School, Word and Life Church (Boksburg and Benoni) and Gracia De Dios for their support.

Since 2020, the number of patients supported has quadrupled. Between January and July this year, 1,608 financial requests have been received, with 1,010 of them for patients in Gauteng. CoH are currently averaging around 220 requests per month.

“God truly has blessed our cause with the most amazing volunteers in the world!” says Cipriano. “Thousands of bakers and volunteers give their time, ingredients, love and passion all year, every year. There is honestly nothing sweeter to me than seeing the excitement and joy that everyone shows on our biggest day of the year – National Cupcake Day. From the feedback that we get from the public, they enjoy it too!”

For more information, contact Tiplady on 071 890 1230 or visit cupcakesofhope.org

Registration to bake and participate in National Cupcake Day 4 Children with Cancer, is now open. People can also participate by buying cupcakes on the day at any of the participating malls.

Go to www.cupcakesofhope.org for more information and a list of the participating malls.

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