Local companies unite in support of Ukraine

What do a motorbike, a bus, a car and a van have in common? No, this isn’t a joke – they were all contenders for a wash by the Dorset Chamber team.

Back in April, the Dorset Chamber set up an online charity auction to raise money to help people fleeing the fighting in wartorn Ukraine. The auction was open to members of the public and all Dorset businesses, whether chamber members or not, with proceeds going to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

According to the DEC, at least three million people have fled their homes to escape the war in Ukraine and more than 18 million people are expected to be displaced as fighting continues.

The team at OnBuy were keen to contribute, so when they saw a full vehicle valet offered by chamber chief executive Ian Girling and his team, they bid £500 to show their support.

OnBuy decided to put the vehicle valet to a public vote on social media to make things a little more ‘interesting’. Members of the team volunteered a motorbike, a car (known as ‘Yaris Hilton’) and a van. Eager to involve more local businesses, OnBuy also reached out to Dorset bus operator Morebus to see if they could ‘borrow’ one of their iconic blue buses to be washed. Morebus were only too happy to get involved to support this great cause.

Unsurprisingly, the bus won the vote by a landslide. Morebus driver Bob Ciardini drove one of the buses down to the Dorset Chamber offices where the whole team rallied together with their buckets, sponges and pink gloves.

Cas Paton, founder and CEO of OnBuy, commented: “Watching the Ukraine crisis unfold in recent months has been devastating. My heart goes out to everyone who has been impacted.

“We jumped at the chance to be able to support those affected, and we’re really glad we could donate to such a great cause. Of course, seeing Ian and the team washing an enormous bus was an added bonus. Well done to the Dorset Chamber team for organising this event and for raising an incredible amount of money to such a worthy cause.”

The auction raised an amazing £11,242 in total, surpassing the goal of £10,000. The DEC says that: • £30 could provide essential hygiene supplies for three people for one month • £50 could provide blankets for four families • £100 could provide emergency food for two families for one month www.onbuy.com