May 21, 2025
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Local News

Race a rubber duck, win prizes, raise money for the IV YMCA

By Tom Collins

No, he’s not drawing a bath for a large group of rubber ducks. Jeff Ellis is trying to win a Nov. 3 race at the Illinois Valley YMCA. The Y is raising funds through a Ducky Derby in which contestants race rubber ducks down the water slides in the Link Aquatic Center. (Submitted photo)

Ever wanted a pet duck when you were a kid? The Illinois Valley YMCA has some easy-care quackers that don’t need food but will raise funds for a good cause.

The YMCA will hold its first “Ducky Derby” during an open house running 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3. In this feather-free contest, 5,000 rubber ducks will race down the water slide of Link Aquatic Center, with prizes awarded to the owners of the fastest ducks. One ducky (er, lucky) winner will even have a chance to win a car.

“Right now we have over $25,000 in sponsorships and over 1,600 ducks adopted,” said Peggy Cain, community development director for the Y. “A lot of people are asking, ‘What’s this about?’, and it’s been fun explaining it.

“There’s been a good response and getting the word out has been good for the YMCA.”

The owner of the first-place duck gets $2,500. Second-place and third-place prizes are stays in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Wisconsin Dells, respectively, and the fourth-place winner gets a 55-inch TV.

And this is one time when it’ll be OK to finish fifth, as the winner gets a mystery prize valued at more than $100 and a chance to win a 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport.

Additional prizes for top-10 finishes include three-month YMCA memberships and a gift certificates, while 10th place gets $250 cash. (Prizes are being updated on ivymcaduckyderby.com)

Ducks will be available for adoption through the day of the race, but anyone not interested in the competition still is invited to the open house. Free food and demonstrations will be available to anyone in the community interested in what the Y has to offer.

“We are very excited about the upcoming inaugural Illinois Valley YMCA Ducky Derby,” said Jeff Ellis, board president of the Illinois Valley YMCA and ‘Head Duck.’

“It promises to be a fun and family-friendly day which will give the community a chance to check out all of the great things that are happening at their local YMCA, as well as hopefully help us raise a bunch of money to support our Strong Kids fundraising campaign. Plus, one lucky winner will get to take home the $2,500 top prize.”

For details, contact Cain at (815) 223-7904 ext. 030 or pcainivymca@gmail.com.

Tom Collins can be reached at (815) 220-6930 or TCollins@shawmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_Court.