NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Hundreds of bright yellow rubber duckies were set adrift on the Hoosic River on Thursday night.
The ducks in their jaunty sea caps were a fund raiser for Family Center of Northern Berkshire County, a program of Child Care of the Berkshires, to raise funds to pay for playgroups, family support, parent education and early literacy programs.
Participants could "adopt" a duck for $5 for a chance to win up to $300. Each duck had a number marked on the bottom and the owners of the first three to make through a gate at the finish won the prizes.
The race started out a slow but steady pace after the ducks were dumped in the water behind Noel Field. The band at Party in the Park was warming up as they were shepherded around the slight bend in the river toward the finish line.
The winners were Sue Columbus in first place winning $300; second was Lisa Richards with $200, and third was Michelle (No. 219) in third for $100.
Organizer Amy Hall said there were slightly fewer ducks than last year, the first year it was put on, but estimated the benefit raised about $1,000 for the Family Center.
"It was lot of fun, I think everyone had fun," she said.
The race itself only lasted about 10 minutes, but a wave of duckies overwhelmed the low fence trying to enclose them and headed downstream. Organizers grabbed baskets and buckets to bring the errant floaters back up the river.
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