Adopt a Duck, Save a Life - The 2021PaDucky Derby

The 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

“The PaDucky Derby has become a favorite of our community,” said Dr. Mary Foley, Executive Director of the Merryman House. “It is such a great way to help support victims of domestic violence, while also bringing the community together around this fun event. This year, we hope to raise more than ever to support our organization. We hope folks will consider adopting a single duck for 5 bucks or a flock for 50.00! There is a place for everyone.”

E-Quack

Everyone who adopts a duck, whether online, in the mail, or at a PaDucky Derby booth, is entered into what they call E-Quack - a database that stores all of the information.

Tag numbers are automatically and randomly assigned. Organizers want to make sure that no duck is taking steroids and the race is not fixed, so to ensure the integrity of the race, tag numbers are never given out. Rest assured, however, that all of the ducks you have adopted will be in the water.

If all the ducks have not been adopted by Derby Day, it means that a lucky adopter can still adopt up to an hour before the Derby. Their names will be placed at random into the mix, next to a number that does not already have a name by it. Anyone can adopt until an hour before the race begins, as long as the Derby is not sold out.

Pick up a Quack Pack!

Ducks are now officially available for adoption online. There is also a Quack Pack of six ducks for $25 or Flock of Ducks for $50 that includes 12 ducks. Single ducks are just $5. Ducks can be purchased at the PaDucky Derby website at duckrace.com/paducah, or upcoming duck adoption venues. Follow their Facebook page to find out where they will be at facebook.com/paduckyderby.

The grand prize is $2500 with second place winning $1000, and third place $500. If you are one of the winners, the Merryman House will contact you using the information you provided with your duck adoption. You do not need to be present to win, but, seriously, why would you want to miss this?

The PaDucky Derby is open to the public. For more information, please contact Merryman House by emailing info@merrymanhouse. org or calling 270.443.6001.

Ducks Helping Survivors of Abuse

All proceeds from the PaDucky Derby benefit The Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers both residency and outreach services to meet the needs of victims of intimate partner abuse and their dependents as they strive to live free of violence in their home.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you would like to learn more about the other activities MHDCC has planned, follow their Facebook page (below) to learn more.

MHDCC serves nearly 1,000 victims per year through a whole host of services. It serves the eight-county purchase region and all services are free of charge. Visit its website at merrymanhouse.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/merrymanhouse.paducah to get help, get connected or give back. 