Ducks do more than quack

Ducks are comical creatures. At the 7A Bridge, they are cute and glide across the water. But once on land, they wiggle their tail feathers, and with a silly walk they jump in the water again, even in January’s cold weather.

Then there’s Daffy and Donald Duck, both entertainers. They certainly made everyone laugh with their antics, including Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny.

But there are ducks that are much more than something to just entertain us and to laugh at. Some ducks save lives. They are the small, yellow, plastic, floating, racing ducks, that in Wimberley only come out in the spring for one afternoon. Believe it or not only on a Sunday.

The ducks are the entrants in the 21st Annual EMS Duck Race, which supports the life–saving Wimberley EMS. They are quick, professional and caring. These are qualities that are needed in an emergency situation.

“This year we are in more need than ever. We are remodeling to get the EMS Station up to date and could certainly use the funds that are raised,” Ken Strange, Director of Wimberley EMS said.

On Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. these racing ducks will be unleashed into the Blanco/Cypress Creek confluence and will try their best to finish in the money and provide their patron with cold hard cash. How does one become a duck patron?

Ducks will be on sale the next couple weeks, around town, to raise the needed funds. Wherever the Duck Ambulance appears, Brookshire Bros. is one place, that’s where you can buy a ticket.

The Duck Race is Wimberley Valley’s answer to the Kentucky Derby, without the mint juleps and funny hats. There are those funny duck t-shirts, but there will also be lots of fun at Waters Point, with a bouncy house, free food and a silent auction, and that is nothing to quack about.

Each duck has a number on the bottom and tickets are sold corresponding to those numbers. The holder of the ticket that matches the number of the first place duck will win

For twenty-one years the EMS has been holding the duck races and the community loves it and looks forward to it. With about 2,500 ducks available, one of them will finish in the money, why not yours? First place duck receives $2000, second $1000, third place $500, fourth $250 and the Lame Duck prize (last duck over the finish line) $250.

It is one of those events that has that small town Wimberley charm and leaves you with the feeling that you did something good, even though you had a good time attending.

The ducks/tickets are $5 a piece, available wherever the duck ambulance is or at the station, 512 847-2526, and can be sponsored right up until race time at 2 p.m. on Sunday May 19 at Waters Point.

Help the racing ducks help the EMS.