Cake Boss with Autism Wins Diana Award

Alana Habergham-Rice, winner of the Diana Award, poses with one of her cake creations. Photo from BBC.

Since she was 6-years-old, Alana Habergham-Rice began baking to raise funds for charities through her own organization titled Alana's Caring Cakes in her hometown of Sheffield, England.

Now at 12-years-old and after raising more than £5,000–about $6,238–for charity, she’s a recipient of the 2020 Diana Award.

The award, founded in 1999, was created to commemorate Diana, Princess of Wales and is given to individuals who inspire positive change in the lives of others.

Habergham-Rice’s mother, Rachel, told the BCC that baking has helped reduce Alana’s anxiety since she was diagnosed with autism.

Habergham-Rice bakes cakes for people nominated on Alana's Caring Cakes Facebook page. Her mom then drives within the 20-mile radius of their home to deliver the cakes.

"The people Alana chooses to bake for often have illnesses or are carers,” Rachel Habergham-Rice said in the BBC article. "She's also baked for doctors, a vicar, teachers, and helpful shop workers."

The funds raised through Alana's Caring Cakes have been given to the Sheffield Hospital Charity and to Habergham-Rice’s friend Daisy for her cerebral palsy treatment.

"It's not about the money, it's about the happiness it brings people," Habergham-Rice said in the BBC article. "I want to always bake for people as a hobby because I don't do it for money.”