Sunkist Lifesaving Club Café on Snell Parade and Bike & Bean Forest Café in Umhlanga celebrated Mandela Day by hosting a heartwarming Cupcakes of Hope fundraiser in support of children affected by cancer.

Young bakers from across Durban were invited to showcase their favourite cupcake creations by bringing their freshly baked treats, along with the recipes, to Sunkist Lifesaving Club Café.

The competition attracted enthusiastic entries, with 16-year-old Julia Rice taking top honours for her delicious vanilla cupcakes.

Emily Roe (13) was named runner-up for her creative South African peppermint crisp tart cupcakes. As the overall winner, Julia received an escape room experience for herself and her friends, sponsored by Mindgame Escape.

Her winning cupcakes will also be featured on the menus at both cafés, carrying her name, while an additional donation will be made to Cupcakes of Hope in her honour.

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Thanks to Fresh Prints, Julia also received a personalised T-shirt and cap celebrating her achievement as the event’s Best Baker.

Generous sponsorship from Bakels ensured that hundreds of freshly baked cupcakes were available for purchase throughout the weekend at Sunkist Café on Snell Parade and Forest Café in Umhlanga, with all proceeds supporting Cupcakes of Hope.

Their delicious Orley milkshake syrups were also used to provide free milkshakes to the bakers and customers.

The organisers also thanked the judging panel of Charmain Shandu, Liam Govender and Dipti Udith, who generously volunteered their time to sample the entries and select the winning cupcakes.

The Mandela Day celebrations extended beyond cupcakes, with face painting delighting children and families at Sunkist on Saturday and Forest Café on Sunday, creating a festive atmosphere for visitors of all ages.

Adding to the fundraising efforts, Nirdev Udith of I Am U Photography offered professional portrait sessions at Sunkist, with proceeds also benefiting Cupcakes of Hope.

The event showcased the spirit of Mandela Day, bringing together local businesses, talented young bakers and the community to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children living with cancer. Don’t forget to support National Cupcake Day on September 26, 2026.