Rubber duck race to benefit Valley High girls volleyball teams

The creek passing in front of Valley High School is set to become a race course — for rubber ducks.

The first-time “Rubber Ducky Derby” scheduled for May 15 is a fundraiser for the junior varsity and varsity girls volleyball teams, said April Stone, their coach and a paraprofessional at Roy A. Hunt Elementary School.

The day’s festivities open to the community will start with a tailgate beginning at 10:30 a.m. It will feature food and drinks, including a barbecue food truck, games and a petting zoo with live ducks.

Vendors interested in taking part in an outdoor market can buy parking spaces for $10 each.

All proceeds will go toward the team, including covering the cost of its year-end banquet and gifts for seniors. While there are usually only one or two seniors to recognize, Stone said there are eight or nine this year.

“We have to step up our game a little bit so we can get these girls everything that they deserve,” she said.

An unlimited number of ducks are being sold for $5 each in the “Lil’ Duckling Race,” with the winner getting a $250 prize. About 200 have been sold so far, and they will be available the day of the race, Stone said.

For the high rollers, there’s the “Big Bill Race,” where the cost is higher, $25, but the number of ducks is limited to 100 and the prize is $500. Stone said 33 ducks were still available for that race, and they are sold in advance only.

The course in Little Pucketa Creek will run from around the football stadium, pass the vo-tech and high school and end near the tennis courts.

The Lil’ Duckling Race will start at noon, with the Big Bill Race following at 1 p.m.

Stone said the idea came from Assistant Superintendent Jon Banko, who four or five years ago said in passing that he thought a duck derby would be a good fundraiser.

“I chuckled, and that was it,” she said. “Now I have a great group of girls who I can’t get out of the gym, and so I decided, let’s make it happen.”

Banko said that when he was high school principal, he saw the stream as a unique element that held a lot of potential for the school.

“I saw a similar event held in a much larger body of water and thought it would be a great idea to do something similar,” he said. “I’m glad April is giving it a go. I purchased ducks and I think it will be a really fun event.”

The players are all looking forward to it, said Chase Simmons, 15, a freshman on the junior varsity team.

“We thought it would be a good idea. We worked hard to bring it all together,” she said. “A lot on the team are working really hard to sell as many as they can.”

Simmons said she hopes the duck race becomes a tradition.

“There’s going to be a lot more than just the derby,” she said. “It’s something good for the community. Hopefully, it will bring a lot of people together.”

Stone also hopes to make the race an annual event.

“It’s a great opportunity for the girls and the community,” she said. “Valley does have a very nice campus. I hope the girls have fun.”