Fundraising baking challenge is a piece of cake for Alex

February 23, 2023 2:56 pm

Our very own Alex Hallam will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen over the next few months.

Alex has been tasked with baking nine celebratory cakes for its supporters.

Each cake will be priced at £200, with all proceeds going towards funding new effective treatments for Duchenne and ultimately finding a cure for the devastating condition which affects one in every 3,500 boys. In total, Alex has raised £3,300 from selling his cakes.

Alex said: “I’ll bake whatever type of cake people ask me for.  I’m currently baking one in the shape of a Leicester Tigers Football shirt. There are different flavours to choose from including some unusual ones, such as lemon and poppy seed and strawberry and champagne.

“I enjoy baking cakes of all kinds but especially ones that challenge my creativity. During lockdown, I made one which had 26 layers. One of my most complicated bakes was for Halloween. That cake looked like a pumpkin, with green and orange icing, and included a fondant spider.” 

Alex’s love of cake making began when he was around five years old watching his mum Emma bake.

Emma added: “I’d be making something like fairy cakes or flapjacks and Alex would want to join in. I let him help me, then after a while he started trying out his own bakes, moving on to harder things, like royal icing. Since then, Alex has even got his school friends into baking. They come round to the house to make brownies with him.”

Alex – who has considered applying to TV’s Great British Bake Off when he’s a bit older – made quite a showstopper for Alex’s Wish 10th anniversary celebratory ball.

His cake sold for £500 at the event’s charity auction, prompting other attendees and supporters to  commission Alex to make more fund-raising bakes. Over the past few weeks, Alex has baked three celebratory cakes – including an engagement cake and a Leicester Tigers shirt 18th birthday cake. 

Alex, who likes chocolate sponge cake best, is also compiling Alex’s Whisk – a book of his own favourite recipes, with all proceeds going to the charity.

Emma added: “Alex has such a positive outlook despite the challenges of  living with Duchenne. It’s why we came up with our #BeMore Alex campaign as he’s such an inspiration – always overcoming barriers and staying so positive, just getting on what with his loves doing.”

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