Ducks will be rolling on the river Sept. 14

Ducks will be rolling on the river Sept. 14 as part of a fundraiser to help fund area youth projects on the south side of Cape Girardeau.

The Southside and Espirit Optimist clubs originally planned to hold the event in conjunction with the Libertyfest and air show downtown July 4, but had to reschedule the event due to the Libertyfest location change.

The Duck Race now takes place in conjunction with the downtown River Tales Classic Car Show in Cape Girardeau, which begins at 8 a.m. The ducks will be released at 1:30 and 2 p.m. Sept. 14. The race starts just north of the Broadway floodgate and ends at the south end of Riverfront Park. Company-sponsored ducks race in the earlier slot.

Sponsors' ducks measure 10 inches long and will be spiffed up with company clothes or other costumes to represent the sponsor. Southeast Missouri Hospital decorated its duck in a nursing outfit. An Aire-Serve duck wears a ball cap with the heating and air conditioning firm logos on it. Another sponsor, Exit Realty, made duck dressing a fun activity for the agents in the office.

"It's whatever they want to do. One has a dress on, and we're looking for a top hat and bow tie," said Tom Meyer, owner of Exit Realty.

Individuals interested in purchasing a duck number for $10 can meet at the Kidd's Dock north of the Broadway floodgate where the races will start. The duck who comes in first, receives $250; the last to cross the finish line receives $100.

Peder Luth secretary/treasurer of the Southside Optimist Club said the idea to raise money this way came from a conversation with former executive director of the Cape Boys and Girls Club, a group the Optimists support. Natika Rowles, Boys and Girls Club director, said the duck race was a successful fundraiser for other clubs, so Luth followed up with phone calls to the Coast Guard, the city and Cape Parks and Recreation Department to get permission and smooth out the logistics.

Luth had a test run with one duck and 11 colored rubber balls launched at Kidd's dock in January 2007.

"They all kind of hovered the coast line and ended in the same spot, very naturally," he said. "The duck that started in last place went to first place and ended up in last place."

A more recent test race wasn't as easy. The ducks didn't float into a neat little cove where Luth could catch them.

"They were 10 feet out into the river. I had to let them go," he said. "We're looking to put a net at the end and catch them that way."

Luth said they're already planning for next year. "We plan on having the sponsor race July 4th and the kid's race on the day of the River Tales Classic Car Show."

Contact Luth at 587-7373.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133