By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Wednesday’s fourth annual Duck Derby promises to be a lot of fun, but will also help support a good cause as the event serves as one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County.
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park, 300 Main, with hot dogs and snacks and will feature a variety of family-friendly activities.
“There will be kids games such as hula hoop contest, duck waddle races and other fun activities,” according to the event website. With “free swimming in the Hays Aquatic Park’s zero-entry pool starting at 5:00 p.m.”
“It’s a great community event,” said Jenny Bates, area director, Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The first heat of ducks is set to launch at 6 p.m., kids’ ducks will launch at 6:15 p.m., and the first cardboard races are set for 6:45 p.m.
“There will be thousands of ducks racing around the Lazy River at Hays Aquatic Park,” the event website said. “The ducks will be split into heats of about 2,500 ducks per heat. The top 500 ducks from each heat will get to compete in the big Championship Race. Prizes will be awarded to the first 10 ducks crossing the finish line at the Championship Race.”
While ducks have been on sale throughout the community in recent weeks, attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase ducks prior to the event.
“We will have ducks available until probability about 15 minutes before the first duck race starts,” Bates said.
The Auto World’s Man Overboard Challenge will feature boats made from cardboard and “duck” tape with awards for the fastest boat as well as the Titanic Award, Spirit Award and Best of Show.
All of the funds raised from the event will go to support the BBBS mission.
“Everything from the duck adoptions for the duck races to the boat races, everything goes back to support Big Brothers Big Sister here in Ellis County,” Bates said. “This is one of our biggest fundraisers during the year.”
BBBS works to support area children that may be struggling according to Bates.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring program,” Bates said. “We match children one-on-one in mentoring relationships with an adult in our community … who are needing some extra support and encouragement in their life to help them through what they may be going through at home, or if they are having some struggles at school.”
She said the organization currently has 120 matches in Ellis County, but another 50 children are waiting for a match.
“The Duck Derby and the funds from that help us to continue working to find volunteers for those kids so they can have their Big Brother or Big Sister,” Bates said.
