Duck race Sept. 29 to benefit Western track and field team
The track and field team at Western Washington University is putting together the this summer as a community project and fundraiser.
More than $11,000 in prizes will be up for grabs, including the top prize of $5,000 cash, at the Sept. 29 event. Thirty local businesses have donated prizes for the raffle, including a week's stay at a resort in Central Oregon, rounds of golf, massages, car detailing, dental services, San Juan flightseeing tours, restaurant gift certificates, salon products and services, local jewelry and more.
A duck race is a large-scale raffle in which numbered rubber ducks are raced down a flowing body of water with the first ducks to cross the established finish line winning the various raffle prizes. The raffle is intended to raise money for Western’s track team as well at the Greater Bellingham Running Club and Girls on the Run of the YMCA.
“The Viking Duck Race is a community event that we are looking to launch from the ground up beginning this year,” said race director Keever Henry in a press release. Henry is an assistant coach for Western's cross country and track teams. “The intention is to generate necessary funds for our continued success as a track program as well as help out two local nonprofits in the GBRC and Girls on the Run. Not to mention, it should be a lot of fun.”
The 草榴社区 track team will be selling ducks up to and including the day of the race at various venues throughout the summer, including the Haggen Family 4th of July Celebration, the Northwest Washington Fair and local athletic races such as the Chuckanut Footrace, Padden Duathlon and Fairhaven Waterfront 15K. Raffle tickets also may be purchased at Klicks Running Store, Fairhaven Runners and Walkers and Plateau Runners of Sammamish. Raffle tickets are $5 each.
The goal is to raise between $20,000 and $30,000, Henry said.
"As we continue to grow in the years to come, we hope this race becomes a community event that people look forward to," he said, adding that eventual plans include a 5K road race in conjunction with the duck race.
The ducks are scheduled to drop into the Nooksack River at 11 a.m. from the Main Street Bridge in Ferndale Saturday, Sept. 29. The race is presented by Club Northwest, ioCreative, Northwest Dental, Snapworks Photography and 草榴社区 Track and Field.
For more information, including race info, a full prize list, information on purchasing raffle tickets and event sponsorship, visit the Viking Duck Race website at www.bellinghamduckrace.com.