Message of hope icing on the cake

A four-tiered Daffodil Day cake, displayed in the window of Cake Stuff in Heretaunga St, is a reminder of how cancer can turn people's lives upside down.

The vanilla cake with custom icing and hand-crafted daffodils was lovingly made by local cake baker and decorator Stacey Johnson, who spent "countless hours" working to realise her vision of suspending the cake upside down from a chain on the ceiling.

"My original inspiration for the cake was the idea of cancer turning your life upside down," she said.

"Even for family members, it is a really difficult thing to deal with."

The descent from largest tier to the smallest represents how hard it can be for cancer sufferers to see the bigger picture, and shows that by taking small steps and working upwards, it is achievable.

The words Give Hope, written on the smallest tier of the cake and reflected in a mirror beneath, top off the message of support.

A smaller cake with the same Daffodil Day decoration was gifted to the Hawke's Bay Cancer Society.

Ms Johnson was inspired to do something different with the window display to raise awareness for Daffodil Day, after she was asked by Cake Stuff owner Donna Kyle to design a cake for the fundraising event.

"It's just so unique and unusual," Ms Kyle said. "It draws everybody in and is a fantastic way to raise awareness."

Hawke's Bay Cancer Society centre manager Kay Collins was blown away by the positive display. "It's absolutely amazing, when you look into the mirror and you see 'Give Hope', that is just such an important message."

Cake Stuff will be selling daffodil shaped chocolates for $3.50 and cupcakes for $3, with all proceeds going to The Cancer Society. Collectors will also be out on the streets of Hawke's Bay gathering money for Daffodil Day tomorrow.

Hawke's Bay shop owners have been dressing their windows for the Daffodil Day Paint the Town Yellow competition.

Moys Bros Jewellers Ltd in Hastings took out first prize, winning a $750 Hawke's Bay Today-sponsored advertising package. In second place was Cake Stuff, which won a $300 advertising package.