Synergy is excited to involve Chestermere locals with the tenth annual Rubber Duck Race to raise funds for youth programs that the charity hosts.
“It’s really to get the community involved. All the proceeds are going towards our youth programs,” said the Rubber Duck Race Event Coordinator Khadija Samoylove.
The initiative first began a decade ago as a Youth Engaging Lasting Leadership (YELL) fundraiser, Samoylove added, YELL and Synergy began hosting the Rubber Duck Race after the organizations were combined.
Residents can purchase numbered rubber ducks from one to 500 for $5, they won’t be racing with living ducks, Samoylove added.
The race will run with groups of 50 to 100 ducks floating either down Rainbow Falls or the canal, Samoylove said.
The top three ducks in each group will compete in a final race to win prizes. Including, a certificate to Lifepath Wellness Centre, a 60-minute massage, rides on the luge, free admissions to Flying Squirrel and free admissions to Telus Spark.
“Our goal is to get more information out about us and our programs, involve the community. The main purpose is to raise money for youth programs,” Samoylove added, “Ideally, we want raise between $2000 and $2500.”
Not only does the annual Synergy Rubber Duck Race help raise funds and awareness for youth programs the charity organizes, but the event is also teaching youth how to organize events and become involved within the community, said Samoylove.
“The event is facilitated by youth, which gives them the opportunity to build event coordination skills,” Samoylove said.
“Our programs themselves are beneficial to the community, we focus on our youth getting them involved in the community and building their leadership skills through volunteering and community engagement,” added Samoylove.
She said that one challenge the Synergy Rubber Duck Race has come across is finding a permanent location to hold the race.
“We would like to hold the race at the canal, but we’re struggling to find proper ways to keep the ducks contained so they don’t actually go into the lake,” Samoylove said.
She added, if the race is held at Rainbow Falls children are allowed to participate in helping the ducks move along the water so they don’t get stuck anywhere.
“The race itself just provides an outing for families to come out and enjoy an evening together while serving another purpose,” she said.
Residents who are interested in purchasing a duck can do so at Synergy, Lifepath Wellness Centre, Lakeshore Spa, Fit Together Gym, Vantage Integrated Health and the Chestermere Public Library.
Synergy will be stopping at different locations selling ducks and chatting about the race with Quackers the mascot, Samoylove added, residents are asked to take photos with Quackers and post them online using the hashtag #SynergyDuckRace2018 for a change to win a prize.
For locations and times for the Synergy Rubber Duck Race visit www.yoursynergy.ca, or to volunteer call 403-212-0242 or send an email at involved@yoursynergy.ca.
