It’s good weather for ducks at mayor’s fundraiser

Mar 10 2008 by Laura Wright, South Wales Echo

A HUNDRED ducks battled it out in a charity racing day.

Families cheered on the plastic ducks as they bobbed down the stream in Cardiff’s Roath Park during the Lord Mayor’s Charity Duck Race.

The event was organised to raise money for the Lord Mayor’s nominated charities: Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales and the Girl Guides of Cardiff and East Glamorgan.

Emma Bennetts, volunteer coordinator for Bobath, said: “It went really well. It was a good one for the families from Bobath to take part and for the Brownies and Girl Guides. It was a good event for all ages.”

So far £23,000 has been raised from events for the two Lord Mayor’s charities, including a garden party and a quiz night.

On Sunday, each of the 100 ducks was sold for £1 each. They then competed in seven races.

A willing volunteer from Bobath dressed up as a giant duck after fancy dress company Script To Screen donated a costume.

Emma said: “It started from one bridge where the lake starts to feed into the stream until the next bridge. People were wading in to collect them in various nets, it was a lot of fun. We were lucky with the weather in the end and we had quite a crowd. Even though there was a point that it was raining, people were still crowding round. It didn’t put people off.”