If you don’t have your ducks in a row, you’ll want them by Saturday. Poplar Bluff’s first-ever Duck Derby offers players a chance at hundreds of dollars in prizes while supporting the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Hundreds of rubber ducks will drop from the Vine Street bridge into the Black River at 10 a.m. Saturday. Each one has a number on the bottom. The first five lucky ducks pulled from the water at the finish line will win a cumulative $1,000, said organizer Corretta Bishop.
As of Monday, only 200 people had adopted ducks, leaving the derby well under its $5,000 fundraising goal. Ducks are $5 or five for $20 in a “quack pack.”
“Anyone, anywhere can adopt ducks,” she explained — the farthest adopters were from Michigan.
Each adopter gets a photo of their ducks and numbers. “So we only need your name, your phone number and your email address. Should you win and you’re out of state, then we will contact you to get the mailing address to where you would like your check sent to.”
Adopters can search for Bishop through her email or phone number on Cash App, Venmo, Zelle and PayPal, or contact her directly at correttabishop@gmail.com or 573-300-6450.
The Duck Derby will be held in partnership with the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department and the Poplar Bluff Fire Department, which is providing their boat for duck retrieval.
Duck Derby proceeds will benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 5 at the Poplar Bluff High School track. This year’s walk is handicap accessible. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk starts at 10 a.m.
Bishop explained all the money raised during the walk funds classes and more in Southeast Missouri. The latest is a partnership with the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library to create dementia patient and caregiver support groups.
“There are some amazing things that are coming out of this, and what made it possible is the money that we have raised from the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. People always say, ‘Well, I don’t know where the money’s going.’ It’s staying here in our communities. So it is a big, a huge asset to have this walk for it to get bigger and better every year,” she said.
Those interested can donate to a walking team, join an existing team or start a new one at alz.org.
In addition to national sponsor Edward Jones, local sponsors Paradigm Senior Management in Dexter and Mid-Continent Steel and Wire in Poplar Bluff. Additional help came from the Rodger’s Theatre and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Multiple openings for sponsors remain, and businesses interested can contact Bishop.
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