Community: Duck Derby tickets go on sale Friday

Ducks went on sale for the 28th Annual Duck Derby Presented by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on Friday, April 21, with racers once again having the opportunity to win a 2017 Toyota Corolla provided by Wilder Toyota.

Forty-five total prizes will be up for grabs this year with proceeds benefiting the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and the Sequim Rotary Club’s charitable projects.

Each duck ticket costs $6. For $30, adopters receive an extra duck (six chances to win) in the race.

For each duck that’s adopted, the purchaser receives a ticket with a printed number, which corresponds to a number on the duck. All of the numbered ducks are dumped into the Lincoln Park Pond on race day and the “owners” of the first 45 ducks to cross the finish line will win prizes.

Just prior to the main race, at 2 p.m., The Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) Race will be held, which is an opportunity for businesses and individuals, including those from outside the Olympic Peninsula who do business with local companies, to purchase special VID ducks emblazoned with their logo, for $300, $600 and $1,200 each.

On race day, the Kids’ Pavilion will add to the entertainment and excitement.

For more information, potential owner/racers can contact the Olympic Medical Center Foundation at 417-7144.

“The OMC Foundation has given over $3.4 million to or on behalf of the hospital during the last 10 years,” said race co-chair Bob Lovell. “We look forward to adding to that total, as this is one of the most successful fundraisers that we do.”

Duck tickets may be purchased from members of the OMC Foundation, many Olympic Medical Center employees, Sequim Rotary Club members, and the Forks’ Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rainforest, as well as countless volunteers that pitch in to raise money for these worthwhile projects.

Ducks also will be on sale daily at all Safeway stores in Port Angeles and Sequim, Swain’s, Lovell’s Chevron and 76 convenience stores, Jim’s Pharmacy, Wilder Toyota, the Peninsula Daily News, Thomas Building Center, First Federal and several other locations.

The race will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles, where all “adoptive parents” will have a chance to win prizes. It is operated under the rules of the Washington State Gambling Commission.

“The time, effort, labor and equipment that various groups put into the Duck Derby, to make this event successful year after year, shows how each of us contributes to make this area such a great place to live. So many individuals and organizations are tireless with their donations and work in this community to help make it what it is,” said Lovell, who co-chairs the race along with Rick Smith.

“It’s a pretty awesome sight to see 30,000 ducks race,” added Smith. “It’s not really about expecting to win, it’s just knowing that you’re donating to a worthy causes that matters. Winning is secondary.”

Get ducks from Sequim Rotarians

Sequim Noon Rotarians are selling Duck Derby Ducks for the 28th consecutive year in conjunction with the Olympic Medical Center Foundation.

Funds from these duck sales fund The Rotary Club of Sequim’s community service projects and include The Boys & Girls Club, Sequim Food Bank, Sequim Schools Teacher Classroom Grants and other projects.

In addition, OMCF’s focus this year is the Sequim Radiation Oncology Center and it’s Navigator Program located on North Fifth Avenue.

Rotarians will not be manning sales booths this year, but coming to purchasers at their convenience. Those want to drop by a physical location can see Dave Beal of Beal Carpet & Drapery at the corner of Washington Street and Sunnyside Avenue for tickets.

To contact a Rotarian, purchase ducks or for more information, call Rotary Duck Chairperson Rochelle McHugh at 460-1421.