Southwest Regional to hold annual ‘Duck Race’
WAYNESBURG – The weather forecast in Greene County for Sunday, April 21 calls for rain, with a 100 percent chance of ducks.
Southwest Regional Medical Center’s annual “Duck Race” fundraiser will give a large number of little plastic duckies a chance to “fly” as they are dropped from a cherry picker into a kiddy pool at the Greene County Fairgrounds.
“In previous years, we took the ducks down to the creek at Crawford’s Field and we had a finish line that they would cross as they floated down the creek, with prizes being awarded based on the order in which they crossed the line,” said Joy Eggleston, senior public affairs officer for SRMC.
“This year we decided to hold the event at the fairgrounds and dump them all at once from a cherry picker. The duck that lands inside the target in the center of the pool will win first, with second and third prizes being awarded to the ducks that land a little bit further out, and a last place prize awarded to the duck that lands farthest away.”
This year’s prizes include $100 for first, $50 for second and $25 each for third and last place. The hospital is also selling raffle tickets for several prize baskets. One ticket is $1, or you can buy 10 tickets for $5, Eggleston said. Tickets will be on sale in the lobby of SRMC from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. The winners of the raffle will be announced during Sunday’s duck race.
In its fifth year, the fundraiser is sponsored by the hospital and its employees to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Eggleston said.
“We wanted to find a way to support the event with a stronger financial commitment,” she said. “We also wanted to support the members of our Relay team and help them to contribute more for the event. This event came about for the sole reason of raising more money for such a great cause.”
Eggleston said that, in the five years that the race has been around, it has steadily grown each year.
“We’ve had tremendous support from the community – we’ve always had a wonderful turnout,” Eggleston said. “Last year our concession stand actually ran out of food because there were so many people in attendance. The weather has always played a factor as well – we’ve always been really fortunate to have at least moderately good-to-excellent weather each year.”
Each year, the event has raised anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000, Eggleston said.
The race won’t be the only thing going on during the event, she explained.
“We’ll have games going on throughout the day, we have a magician coming this year, we’re going to do an egg hunt for the kids, our mascot will be there, along with the Cornerstone Care mobile unit,” Eggleston said. “There will be food, the 4-H Rabbit Club will be there with some bunnies – we’ll have all kinds of fun events and activities. We hope everyone will come out and have a great time.”