Going quackers at duck race to raise funds for charities

The Bingley Charity Duck Race will take place on Sunday 8 September in aid of Friends of Myrtle Park, Bingley Foodbank, Eldwick Hedgehog Rescue, and Bingley Canoe Club.

Ducks will be released at 2.30pm from the bridge in Myrtle Park by the old paddling pool and the ducks will make their way down the River Aire to the finish line at Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club, Wagon Lane.

The owner of the winning duck will receive £100 cash, with other prizes including meal vouchers, beer vouchers, and a driving experience day.

The event is being organised by Bradford City supporters’ club Bingley Bantams. Since launching in 2016 the group has raised almost £50,000 for local charities.

There will be plenty of ducks on the water. Picture: Pixabay

The race will set off from the bridge at Myrtle Park

Bingley Bantams communications officer Andrew Vaux says: “We thought this would be fun way to raise funds for four local charities which do such valuable work in the local community, and hope as many people as possible will support the event by buying ducks and coming along on the day to watch the race.

“We’re extremely grateful to local businesses for their support either by buying ducks, providing prizes, or acting as outlets to sell ducks to customers.

“If successful, the Duck Race could grow and become an annual fixture in Bingley’s event calendar.”

Ducks can be bought in advance from bingleybantams.co.uk or from a variety of shops and bars on Main Street, Bingley.

After the Duck Race. Bingley Bantams next event is a Charity Winter Ball at The Mercure Hotel, Bingley, on Friday 22 November, in aid of dementia support group Bradford Memories. Any local businesses wanting to support the Winter Ball should contact Ian Taylor on secretary@bingleybantams.co.uk for full details of advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

*Rubber duck races, also known as Derby duck races, have been used as a method of fundraising for organizations worldwide. People donate money to the organisation by sponsoring a duck. At the end of the fundraising drive, all of the ducks are places into a stream, with the first to float past the finish line winning a prize.

The location and origin of the first rubber duck race is unclear - one source states that it took place in 1987 in Ottawa, Canada, while another says that a charity in Dyserth, Wales, held its first annual rubber duck race in 1980.

Whichever is true, they are a lot of fun and enjoyed by people of all ages.