By: Clara McMichael

If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth and contribute to curing diseases on an international scale, you can do both these things at the same time on February 24, at Cupcake Wars to End7 in the Bishop’s Lounge from 7:00-9:00 P.M.

 This is the second year of the annual event put on by Human Environmental Animal Team (HEAT) with the object of raising money to help end seven Neglected Tropical Diseases: elephantiasis, river blindness, snail fever, trachoma, roundworm, whipworm, and hookworm.  These diseases are common in areas of poverty.

Globally, approximately one in six people suffer from one of these diseases. Proceeds of Cupcake Wars go to End7, a nonprofit campaign of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Sabin Vaccine Institute.

End7 has already gotten the vaccinations and medication needed to treat the diseases – the money donated goes to transporting the medication to the isolated areas which need it and setting up self-sustainable treatment programs.

HEAT coordinated with the science department faculty in order to learn more about end7 and put on Cupcake Wars.

Last year, twenty-five organizations participated in the event, raising approximately $700 which all went to helping end these seven diseases.  Fifty cents is the amount it costs to help a single child for one year, so a total of 1400 children received medication to treat these diseases.

“It’s a really great opportunity for organizations on campus to be able to publicize themselves and have a fun competition,” said Mica Radu, president of HEAT.

Although many people participate as part of an organization, participants do not have to be part of an organization in order to buy a table for fifteen dollars and sell their cupcakes.  There must be four to six people per group.

Last year, popular cupcakes included maple bacon, champagne, margarita, and tres leches.  Each cupcake is one dollar.