CUPCAKES 4 Kids with Cancer co-ordinator for Nelson Mandela Bay, Andrew Barry has dedicated his time to helping children with cancer after he fought the disease 20 years ago.
Barry, who has been teaching at Chapman High School for 33 years said he loves working with kids and opted for the Cupcakes 4 Kids with the Cancer organisation because of his passion for children living with cancer.
“I love children and I wanted to find an initiative that helps sick kids because seeing a child ill breaks my heart,” he said.
Thehistory teacher said he loves being an educator at Chapman because he gets a great amount of support and respect from the children at his school.
Barry, who wears a colostomy bag, after suffering from colon cancer in 1999 has helped many children that were diagnosed with cancer at his school. He also goes to hospitals to speak to children and adults with cancer to motivate them.
“There is currently a 17-year-old girl at Chapman High School who has colon cancer who will unfortunately not be able to finish the school year. I try to help her as much as I can,” he said.
Barry, together with his wife Ivona, who have been involved with the Cupcake 4 Kids initiative for four years, will be co-ordinating their first cupcake run in the city on September 28.
The couple sold over 3000 cupcakes last year and made close to R80 000 in cupcake sales and donations from the public. They aim at reaching R100 000 this year by selling cupcakes and t-shirts at various locations.
“The money we make goes to educating parents about early warning signs of cancer in kids and helping kids with funding for cancer related issues,” he said.
Ivona who is a baker, will bake and donate 2000 cupcakes for the yearly initiative and they would like to appeal to the public to donate cupcakes which will be sold at Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre, Walmer Park Shopping Centre, Baywest Mall and Greenacres Shopping Centre.
For more information contact Ivona on 081 514 8985 or send and email to ivonaelie@gmail.com.
