The prizes are terrific, the atmosphere is fun and the cause is a good one.
The annual Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty Food Bank Duck Race is coming up Tuesday, July 1. Have you got your ticket yet?
Realtor Marilyn Jolie, who puts up the first prize money of $2500 cash, says the goal this year is to sell 4,000 tickets in order to raise over $20,000.
“This is the tenth year of running the ducks in Mark Creek,” Jolie said. “It is an exciting time for the community as it is both a great event for Kimberley and it is a means of raising money for the Food Bank. This unfortunately is an ongoing struggle for the Board of the Food Bank and Kimberley is so supportive of their needs.
“Last year we raised $17,000 for the Food Bank and this year our goal is $20,000. If we sell out the 4,000 tickets and with proceeds from the barbecue, we should exceed our goals.”
The barbecue is part of the fun of race day. It is held in the Civic Centre parking lot, right beside Mark Creek and the race finish line.
Not only is it fun, it garners great support from local business, with Mark Creek Market donating all pop, hot dogs and buns, and Kimberley Sausage and Meats donating pork for the famous pulled pork sandwiches. Ray’s Music provides the sound system so MC Don McCormick can keep all apprised of the ducks’ progress. A team of realtors led by Audrey Welk serves the food and Rotary donates the use of their food trailer. The City provides services such as the use of a loader to dump the ducks.
It’s a real community event, and if you’d like to get involved, volunteers are always needed to retrieve ducks from the water. Give Marilyn a call at 2504-427-8700 if you can help out.
In addition to the $2500 cash prize, second prize is two nights free in a three-bedroom condo on the ski hill courtesy of Kimberley Lodging Company, worth $750, plus two rounds of golf with cart from Kimberley Golf Course, $250, and a $150 gift certificate from the Gasthaus. Third prize is $250 cash from Meadowbrook Greenhouse and fourth prize is two rounds of golf from Bootleg Gap.
Tickets are only $5 each and will be on sale at visible locations such as grocery stores and the liquor store up to July 1.
“Great prizes and easily worth the $5,” Jolie said. “It would be appreciated if you would buy more than one. Every dollar collected goes to the cost of food. There is no cost to run the race because everything is donated.
“Heather Smith from the Food Bank assures me this is the year’s biggest fundraiser, and so necessary for the smooth operation of the Food Bank over the summer and into the fall. One third of all the people the Food Bank helps are children, 55 per cent are disabled or on a pension, 37 per cent are on EI or WCB. They are only permitted one hamper every 60 days so it is a helping hand to those in need.”
The barbecue begins at 11:30 a.m. on July 1; ducks in the water around noon.