The Clippers will hold their Ochre River Duck Race Fundraiser on October 22nd, pushed back a week from its original start due to recent flooding.
The Dauphin Clippers football team will host a not so run-of-the-mill fundraiser on October 22nd, the Ochre River Duck Race.
"I think you've got to find novel ways to get people exciting about fundraising," says Clippers football coach Nathan Thacker. "Fundraising's not great but it is one of those necessary evils in order to keep costs down for kids."
The Dauphin Clippers and East Parkland Warriors out of Ste. Rose have teamed up to host a race of 700 ducks down the Ochre River on a Saturday afternoon.
The two clubs are teaming up and selling 350 rubber ducks each at $10 a piece. The first duck to reach the finish line will win the pot. If all the ducks sell the pot tops out at $1750.
Ducks will be launched from the CN tracks on the train bridge Southwest of Ochre River, and finish at the Highway 20 bridge.
The Clippers have sold well over 250 ducks. If you're still interested in buying a duck you can contact Nathan Thacker at Ochre River School during the day.
The teams have borrowed the rubber ducks from the Fort Dauphin Museum.
"Fort Dauphin used to run a duck race for years, and years and they haven't been doing it the last few years," says Thacker. "They were very accommodating with lending them to us."
The Clippers are hoping to piggyback off the excitement that surrounded these races when Fort Dauphin held them.
"It's not going to be a long race, it's probably going to take a few minutes to do. But I think it's going to be pretty entertaining and it's one of those things where it was always a big deal when Fort Dauphin did it."
The two football clubs will divide the funds raised. Ste. Rose will use the money to help their football fund, the Clippers are using the money in a much different way.
A former Clippers coach Jamie Hrizai passed away over the summer in Winnipeg, leaving behind three young children. An education fund has been established for Hrizai's children in the future, the Clippers have decided their funds will be donated to that fund.
Recent flooding has caused some concerns surrounding the race to run through the Ochre River.
"It's a little bit of a concern for those of us that are going to be in the river," admits Thacker. "We've got to make sure we catch all 700 ducks and we don't freeze anything while we're in there."
For those hoping to buy the lucky number 13 duck, unfortunately it's already been taken, and may have the best odds of winning. Thacker, the owner of that duck, has it on a strict training regimen.
"Number 13's looking pretty good. He's been in training for a few weeks now, eating his vitamins, getting lots of sleep, and spending some time on the treadmill, so hopefully he makes out well," he joked.
