South Australia’s CJ’s Bakery will host its ninth annual charity auction this Thursday, February 19 to raise funds for non-for-profit organisation Endometriosis Australia.

The bakery will auction off its first tray of their infamous hot cross buns for the Easter season, which took home first prize for Australia’s Best Hot Cross Bun in 2017, second prize in 2022, and SA’s Best Hot Cross Bun in 2021.

Trays of CJ’s Bakery’s special vanilla slice hot cross buns and the last fruit mince pies of the season will also be snatched up by two eager bidders.

Andrew Sutton, co-owner of CJ’s Bakery with his wife Kerrie, says proceeds from the auction go to a cause that’s close to his family’s heart.

“The auction started originally because in 2017, we’d won the award for Australia’s best hot cross bun. So, as a means of promoting that and just doing something beyond us with the win, we decided to go down the charity auction track,” Andrew said.

“When we first started the auction, we fundraised for HeartKids, but shortly after that our youngest daughter got diagnosed with endometriosis.

“She must have been around 14 or 15, so very young to get a diagnosis. Some ladies can wait seven to 10 years to get their diagnosis. But, luckily enough, my wife just kept fighting for the answers and we got them.”

Andrew says his daughter’s challenging journey with the reproductive disorder has shone a light on what’s needed to help treat people with Endometriosis.

“The research into endometriosis is such a big question and has been for many years. There still isn’t a cure, and so there’s always going to be more work to be done.”

The fundraiser draws in big crowds of Christies Beach locals who come to show their support. Andrew says the whole community gets around it, with the local costume hire company even sending down an Easter Bunny mascot for the occasion.

“I think we got 500 bucks for our first tray the first time we did it, and then the next year we raised 800 bucks … I think there was one year where we actually got $5,000 for the very first tray as a solo bid from a solo person,” Andrew said.

“We’re hoping to get some excitement around it again this year and hopefully stretch out some new heights.

“It’s that hard balance of all this anticipation, but also being quite prepared that you might only just get the base numbers, and that’s fine, too. It’s a fun game to play. And if we win, Endometriosis Australia wins. And if not, it’s still a great publicity thing for both us and them.”

Participants will receive baguette-style “bread bidding batons” to raise when bidding… that’s if they haven’t already been eaten, Andrew jokes.

Following the fundraiser, CJ’s Bakery will begin selling their hot cross bun packs, with $1 from every purchase on auction day going toward Endometriosis Australia.