Viral candyfloss boy who lost use of arm gears up for ‘biggest ever event’
Hashir Aziz, 12, learned to make the confectionery with one hand while recovering from a devastating car crash and now donates it to good causes
A Bradford schoolboy who went viral for making candyfloss after partially losing the use of his left arm in a car crash will be donating the treats to a good cause at his “biggest event ever” this weekend.
Hashir Yahya Aziz, 12, from Shipley, will be running a candyfloss stall and giving a speech about his experience at the North London Youth Gala on Sunday. The event will also include performances by nasheed artist Muslim Belal and the rapper B-Shaf.
The collision in May 2023 left him in a four-day coma with injuries to his arm, a fractured ribcage and collapsed lungs. During his recovery, he was given a small candyfloss maker by a relative and began experimenting with how to use it one-handed.
Since then, Hashir has turned candyfloss-making into a small business and has been hired at 20 events since he started, including birthday parties and weddings. At fundraisers, he donates his services and ingredients for free.
“I think candyfloss helps raise more money because it grabs people’s attention and gets them involved. It makes the event more fun and helps bring in extra donations for the people who need it most,” Hashir said.
He added: “What I love most about giving out candyfloss and snow cones at charity events is seeing everyone happy and having a good time. It’s really nice seeing people walk away smiling, especially when it’s all for a good cause.”
This weekend’s community event, which is taking place at Edmonton Mosque, is being supported by local mosques, community groups and small businesses. Hashir will be handing out free sticks of candyfloss to upwards of 300 attendees.
He will use his speech to explain how he stayed positive following the accident. “For anyone who is going through something similar or is struggling, I would like to say: ‘Don’t give up’,” he said.
“Every single day I was laying on the hospital bed with nothing to do, and a quote that helped me get through those days was ‘verily, with hardship comes ease’, which is from the Qur’an.”
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A video of Hashir speaking about his experience went viral in December 2025 after it was shared on TikTok by B-Shaf. “Think you’re mentally strong? Listen to this,” the rapper wrote at the time.
Describing the aftermath of the crash, Hashir said: “I remember waking up and seeing my arm. It was all bloody. I looked at it and fainted again. The next time I woke up I was in the ambulance or a hospital room and they were examining me. After that I don’t remember anything.”
He has undergone multiple surgeries since, but has not fully recovered. He is due to have more surgeries this year, including on his left thumb, which still does not move.
“I find it hard getting ready, like putting on my clothes and shoes,” he said. “I can’t tie my shoelaces because of my left hand.”
It also means Hashir can no longer take part in some of the sports he used to love. “I used to do loads of parkour and climbing. I used to be really athletic, but now I can barely run that fast because my body cramps up and my legs give up.”
