{"id":41099,"date":"2024-09-03T10:14:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T08:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/highway-berea\/?p=41099"},"modified":"2024-09-03T10:14:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T08:14:28","slug":"go-sweet-with-cupcakes-4-kids-with-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/highway-berea\/blog\/2024\/09\/03\/go-sweet-with-cupcakes-4-kids-with-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"GO SWEET WITH CUPCAKES 4 KIDS WITH CANCER\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 28 September 2024, the much-anticipated National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer will be taking place at\u00a012 malls<\/a>\u00a0in KwaZulu Natal. This event has taken place since 2012 to raise funds for Cupcakes of Hope \u2013 an NPC and PBO that supplies assistance and support to the families and children who are diagnosed with cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have assisted more than 10,000 patients over the past 10 years,\u201d says Sandy Cipriano, founder of Cupcakes of Hope. \u201cMy husband and I started to raise funds for children with cancer when a friend lost her 3-year-old to cancer. In 2012, we registered the non-profit Cupcakes of Hope. Since then, via the community-driven National Cupcake Days, 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 diagnosed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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)\u2019s Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) programme that focuses on supporting the parents and caregivers of young cancer patients.<\/p>\n

\u201d The partnership is a continued strength of support for us, helping with several care and support packs for our little ones and parents,\u201d says\u00a0Anina Meiring, CANSA Service Manager: Childhood Cancer.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

KwaZulu Natal Mall Co-ordinator Cheryl Samuel has been supporting CoH since 2018. \u201cI joined in 2018 when my dad was diagnosed with cancer,\u201d says Samuel. \u201cMy dad is a stage 4 cancer survivor, fighting through rigorous rounds of chemo and radiation treatment and is my absolute hero and warrior of faith. This organisation makes a real difference in the lives of our\u00a0little<\/em>\u00a0warriors, touching so many people \u2013 not just the families and children that are helped. Last year, a local store owner gave us the use of his kitchen and staff, and provided supplies when we had a logistical hiccup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2020, the number of patients supported has quadrupled.\u00a0 Between January and July this year, 1,608 financial requests have been received, with 77 of them for patients in Durban. CoH are currently averaging around 220 requests for financial assistance per month.<\/p>\n

Shelly Centre Mall Co-ordinator Ranjinee Ramdeen is in her 10th year as a cupcake angel and her second year as a mall co-ordinator. \u201cI started volunteering with my brother Nilesh and daughter Rachna. We became volunteers after we went through the trauma of having a child with cancer. Rachna had Hodgkin’s lymphoma but was in remission. Unfortunately, she relapsed and passed away at 16 years old. From that moment my entire family pledged to be cupcake Angels as we have first-hand experience of the difficulties that families go through.\u201d This year, Ramdeen is not only co-ordinating, she is also baking 500 cupcakes in honour of her late daughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod truly has blessed our cause with the most amazing volunteers in the world!\u201d says Cipriano. \u201cThousands 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 \u2013 National Cupcake Day. From the feedback that we get from the public, they enjoy it too!\u201d<\/p>\n

Registration to bake and participate in National Cupcake Day 4 Children with Cancer, is now\u00a0open<\/a>. People can also participate by buying cupcakes on the day at any one of the malls below:<\/p>\n