Adopt a Duck, Save a Life The 2021 PaDucky Derby
T
he biggest and best (and ONLY) duck race in Paducah is gearing up for its seventh year. Yes, there’s nothing cuter than thousands of bright yellow ducks racing to raise money for the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center.
This year’s PaDucky Derby is being held at 3pm, on October 23 on Noble Park Pond. Now, these aren’t real ducks, of course, they are rubber duckies - and they are a sight to see! So, what are you waiting for - sponsor a racing duck, help a local non-profit, and win a money prize! Each adopted duck will go directly to saving, building, and changing the lives of those affected by domestic violence. Last year’s event raised more than $50,000. The Derby was started seven years ago with 5,000 ducks and that was raised to 8,000 in 2017. As popularity grew so did the ducks and in 2020 it went up to 10,000. The goal was set before the pandemic but despite everything, the 10,000 were adopted. Organizers are working hard to get all ten thousand ducks adopted this year!
The BIG box!
On the day of the event, hundreds of people came to watch the ducks drop into the pond. The Paducah Fire Department is there with their hoses ready to provide a torrent of water which causes a current to send the ducks on their way. It’s quite a spectacle! “For the first couple of years, Paducah Power used a bucket truck.,” explained Kayla Myers, Director of Community Engagement at the Merryman House. “One year, Huston used a giant tractor. By 2020, we needed an even bigger solution. So, the engineers at Paducah Power told us they could build one huge wooden box that would hold all 10,000 ducks. They hoisted it over the pond and used a trap door to dramatically release the racers. It was AMAZING, and honestly one of the best parts of last year’s race.” “For 2021, the plan is to randomly choose a youth participant/ spectator from the crowd to push the button and activate the duck drop. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to be chosen, so this is a must-attend event!”
Bringing The Community Together 12
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2021
Purchase Area Family Magazine
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