The Alouette River will turn yellow Sunday as a raft of rubber ducks take to the water for the fourth annual Meadow Ridge Rotary Duck Race.
The race will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Maple Ridge Park to raise money for local children’s sports.
This year, KidSport will be receiving 25 per cent of the proceeds.
KidSport gives out grants for children to play sports who wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford to play.
Last year, KidSport B.C. helped more than 6,700 children with nearly $1.4 million in grants.
Locally, the group helped 330 children participate in sporting activities.
Rotary is hoping to sell 10,000 tickets at $10 each to raise $100,000 for the local youth organizations.
Last year, $89,555 was raised for 27 non-profit organizations and Rotary youth projects in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Every dollar raised stays in the community.
This year, more than half of the tickets have already been sold, said organizer Bob Schantz.
“We’ve got the cash in for half, but we have a whole bunch that are outstanding. We’ve called for all of the sold tickets to be in by Friday this week,” said Schantz, in order to start labeling the ducks.
They will be on sale until race time on Sunday.
The event will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the park with activities for people of all ages. Entertainment will include local artists Aaron Connaughton, Andrew Girbig, Paul Haskel and Mike Walker.
There will be a bouncy castle, face-painting, balloon artistry by Click and Clown, and carnival games like a water balloon throw and duck pond fishing with prizes for all the children.
The grand prize this year is a 2013 Fiat 500 POP hatchback from Maple Ridge Chrysler, valued at $21,380.
Second prize is a week stay in Whistler, B.C. valued at $2,000.
Third prize is a Mark’s Work Warehouse $1,000 gift certificate.
Fourth prize is a $1,000 Fuller Watson furniture or mattress package.
Fifth is two rounds of golf for four people at Meadow Gardens Golf Club, including a golf cart and, sixth is a 32” flat screen television valued at $450 from Haney Sewing and Sound.
Food vendors are still being sought for the event. If interested contact Ineke Boekhorst at 604-467-2420.
Tickets can be purchased at participating sponsors and youth groups, including Westminster Savings at both their Maple Ridge branches until race day.