International Childhood Cancer Day is on February 15.
To make a substantial difference in the lives of young cancer patients requiring financial support for their medical care, Cupcakes of Hope (CoH) is working to raise R500 000.
CoH invites South Africans to host or support a Party of Hope to help them achieve their mission of providing hope for a better future.
You can set up a little pop-up cupcake sale at your work, your child’s school, during play dates, or even at get-togethers with friends on the weekends.
Sandy Cipriano, the founder of CoH, and her team expanded their vision beyond their initial September fundraiser for National Cupcake Day and International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2014, which gave rise to the concept of Parties of Hope.
“With the growing need for medical resources, we decided to encourage year-round donations. We urged people to bake cupcakes, sell them in unique ways, and donate the proceeds. The response and willingness to join our mission have been overwhelming,” Cipriano said.
CoH pays cancer patients’ medical providers directly monthly or occasionally every week. Volunteers also provide care items for hospitalised patients. The funds address patients’ physical, psychological, and physiological needs by paying for everything, from wheelchairs to life-saving procedures.
Parties of Hope raise an additional R1m for children with cancer, making it possible for them to attend to about 3 000 medical demands at 20 South African medical facilities. In the last three years, CoH has helped an average of 230 people monthly, up from the previous 100. The prediction is that 2024 will see even greater demand.
’We aim to make hosting a Party of Hope fun and impactful. Given the relentless nature of cancer-related expenses, we recognise the challenges faced by parents of children with cancer. To create a better tomorrow, we must start today and are eager to build momentum towards our 2024 goal,” Cipriano said.
To host a Party of Hope, register as a baker on the website Cupcakesofhope.org before February 29. Commit to baking 24 or 48 cupcakes (though more are always welcome), organise your sale, bake, raise funds, and donate to CoH.
The Cupcake Angels will process your donation with all the information required. Companies wanting to get further involved can email bake@cupcakesofhope.org You can also use a website offering awareness leaflets, an apron with the hashtag #Bake4cancer, balloons, and baking cups to obtain an Angel Pack.
International Childhood Cancer Day is a reminder to participate in events that promote hope, such as Parties of Hope. The healthcare costs never stop, and CoH’s donation website is always available.
Donate at www.cupcakesofhope.org/donate
For more information, visit Cupcakesofhope.org or email sandy@cupcakesofhope.org