Sirius Buying Group has announced an increased fundraising total of £13,500 for its 2026 charity partner, OCHRE – the Oesophageal Cancer Charity.
This comes after the buying group’s charity auction held at the Gala Dinner of its 25th Anniversary Trade Show last month. The auction has become a regular a fixture, with Approved Suppliers donating products and experiences, Members bidding on them through the evening, and the proceeds going directly to OCHRE.
The recent Sirius Trade Show at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes drew more than 450 Members, Approved Suppliers, Service Providers and guests, with over 35 Suppliers exhibiting across the floor, and the Gala Dinner that followed was the largest the Group has staged in its 25 years.
This year’s fundraising carries particular weight for the Group following the diagnosis of long-standing Member, John Wardman, of Domestic Supplies in Mansfield, with early-stage oesophageal cancer arising from Barrett’s oesophagus. John acted on his symptoms rather than continuing to manage them with over-the-counter medication, and that decision led directly to an early diagnosis, which is precisely the outcome that OCHRE’s awareness work exists to bring about.
The charity raises awareness of the symptoms of oesophageal cancer, supports patients and their families, and funds research into earlier diagnosis and improved treatment.
Since Sirius was founded in 2001, the Group and its network of Members and Approved Suppliers have donated well over £200,000 to good causes, and the 25th anniversary year was always going to be the year to push that figure further.
Mark Veysey, Operations Director at Sirius Buying Group, said: “Our Approved Suppliers came forward with some brilliant items this year and our Members made sure every one of them got the bids it deserved, which is what happens every time we ask. £13,500 is a figure to be proud of, and with John’s story front of mind for so many people in that room, the night meant a lot more than the number on the sheet. Thanks go to everyone who donated, everyone who bid, and everyone who has given since.”
Fundraising for OCHRE continues through the rest of 2026, and Members, Approved Suppliers and anyone else who wants to support the charity can still do so through the Sirius and OCHRE JustGiving page.
