Go sweet with Cupcakes 4 Kids with Cancer

Ranjinee and Jayram Ramdeen are among the “cupcake angels“.

National Cupcake Day 4 Kids with Cancer will be taking place at 12 malls across KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday September 28.

This event has taken place since 2012 to raise funds for Cupcakes of Hope – a non-profit, public benefit company – that supports 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 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.”

They also assist with requests from the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA)’s Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) programme that focuses on supporting the parents and caregivers of young cancer patients.

”The partnership is a continued strength of support for us, helping with several care and support packs for our little ones and parents,” said Anina Meiring, Cansa Service Manager: Childhood Cancer.

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.

KwaZulu-Natal mall co-ordinator Cheryl Samuel has been supporting CoH since 2018.

“I joined in 2018 when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. My 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,” she said.

“This organisation makes a real difference in the lives of our little warriors, touching so many people – 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.”

Since 2020, the number of patients supported has quadrupled. 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 a month.

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.

“I 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.”

This year, Ms Ramdeen is not only co-ordinating, but is also baking 500 cupcakes in honour of her late daughter.

“God truly has blessed our cause with the most amazing volunteers in the world,” said Ms 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.”

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 one of the malls below: