25th Duck Race Tops $2-million
“I’m thrilled! Absolutely thrilled!” That’s Marcia Logan’s assessment of this year’s 25th anniversary Estes Park Duck Race held May 4th. Logan was the “Big Duck” for this year’s race – chair of the Estes Park Rotary Club’s Duck Race Committee.
“We hit a significant milestone in this year’s race,” said Logan. “In addition to being the 25th running of the ducks, we sold enough duck adoptions to reach a cumulative total of $2-million in money raised for charities and service organizations in the Estes Valley. That was one of my goals for this year’s race – to reach $2-million and we did it!”
Robert Keep, owner of Highlands Music and Minstrel Gifts in Estes Park, was the person who adopted the 4,731st duck that put the duck race over the $2-million mark. He received a special 2013 U.S. Silver Dollar Eagle Coin in honor of that purchase. Fifteen of those coins, worth about $80 each on the open market, were handed out as prizes in the race.
Keep received his silver coin at the regular Thursday Noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Estes Park. He also received a 25th anniversary pin and a certificate commemorating the milestone.
“The numbers speak for themselves: 25 years, $2-million - that’s a very successful program,” said Keep. “Since I volunteer with several of the organizations that benefit from these funds, I know it is a very important source of money for them, especially the smaller organizations that don’t have the wherewithal to get big grants and things. So, keep up the good work.”
Mayor Pro Tem Eric Blackhurst also was on hand to accept a symbolic check for $2-million.
"This is a tremendous fund raising opportunity," said Blackhurst. "There have been thousands of people over the years that this club has helped through your fund raising efforts. You should be very proud of the work you do and on behalf of the citizens of Estes Park I thank you very sincerely."
Logan said the duck race has gone international. “People have purchased duck adoption forms in all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, four provinces in Canada, Germany, Australia, and this year we got one from South Africa. I think that’s pretty fantastic.”
Logan admits she became a bit nervous when all the snow started falling the week of the race. “We had two feet of snow on the ground. If conditions were typical, it would melt. But not too fast,” she said. “Too fast and the river is too fast; too slow and the ducks don’t go.”
Logan went to check things out at the starting line at Nicky’s Resort and Steakhouse on Thursday and “there was two feet of snow on the bridges and on the ground where the ducks would go into the river.” By Friday night, the snow had begun to melt significantly, but Logan was still worried about Rotarians and other volunteers who would be working along and in Fall River to make sure all the ducks reach the finish line. “I was so worried, but Ward Nelson (the duck race “sheriff”) warned all our workers not to take any risks in snowy, icy conditions. We can always buy more ducks. Fortunately, no one was injured.”
Also by Friday night, 4,969 ducks had been adopted. That wouldn’t be enough to reach another of Logan’s goals – raising more than $100,000 for charity.
That goal was reached on Saturday morning when more than 543 additional ducks were adopted for a total of 5,512 adoptions – generating $104,713 for 63 non-profit organizations participating in the race. That also passed the 100,000 adoptions mark for 25 years of the race.
Logan learned the morning before the race the Town’s Parks Dept. was busy shoveling two feet of snow off Riverside Plaza where the finish line is and everyone gathers for the posting of the winners. She never expected that. “It was amazing,” she said.
Amanda Gordon of Glen Haven was the winner of the big prize – the Panasonic 47” LED TV. Elena Anaya of Oakland, CA won the 42” Sharp LED Smart TV. A complete list of prize winners is posted on the duck race website: www.epduckrace.org.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for all the hard work and the generosity of our major sponsors and local merchants who donated money and prizes,” said Logan. “They are the best. I had expectations, but everything and everyone exceeded my expectations.”
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