Become a Cupcake Angel and help save a life!

The country has been urged to get involved and mark the eighth National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer on 28 September.

“We are calling on everyone to get involved, mark the date in their calendars, start baking and literally make a difference in the lives of children,” said founder, Sandy Cipriano.

According to Sandy, activations and events have already been planned for 88 malls across the country, as the non-profit company hopes to better the target reached last year.

She said she began this journey after a friend lost her three-year-old daughter to cancer. As the owner of the Rio Sol Portuguese Restaurant in Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg, she realised that she could do something to change lives.

“The first year we raised R5 000 and helped one little boy. Now we have helped more than 1 500 patients … This is really the sweetest way to help save a life,” she said.

“A Non-Profit Company (NPC) and Public Benefits Organisation (PBO) called Cupcakes of HOPE aims to create awareness and raise funds for children with life-threatening diseases. This is achieved through our love for baking cupcakes,” she said.

The funds raised enable the organisation to assist about 70 patients each month to pay for their medical expenses, day-to-day needs like nutritional food and transport to and from hospital.

“This year we have already registered 65 new patients on our books. Last month we donated R25 000 to 16-year-old Damon for his prosthetic leg, and a further R75 000 to Jordan, who flew to the USA for his trial treatment,” said Sandy.

Essentially, Cupcakes of HOPE is a community-driven project that gets everyone involved to ‘bake’ a difference in the lives of children with life-threatening diseases. Volunteers are called Cupcake Angels and can be anyone.

“Aged between three and ninety years old, students, firemen, lawyers and doctors, they all come together from different backgrounds and income levels to bake a difference. All that is needed is a bit of time and loads of love. We want to spread cupcake love all across South Africa,” said Sandy.

World Records (Cupcakes of HOPE has set a few world records to help create awareness for the cause):

• 2017: World’s Tallest Cupcake Tower of 10,7m tall. Here over R300 000 was raised for children awaiting stem cell transplants

• 2018: Tallest Mandela Cake. This 3m tall Mandela Cake Statue was created in Sandton City to celebrate Madiba’s 100th Birthday.

To register to become a baker for National Cupcake Day, visit https://www.cupcakesofhope.org to find your nearest participating mall and contact the co-ordinator to make your pledge of 24/ 48 cupcakes. On National Cupcake Day, the public can then make a R10 donation for a delicious cupcake made with love.