Rotary Club’s virtual duck race nets $25,000 for local charities

GUELPH-WELLINGTON - The Guelph-Wellington Rotary Club held a virtual celebration in January to distribute the proceeds of the 2020 “virtual” duck race to five local charities:

- Family Counselling and Support Services;

- Hopewell Children’s Homes. Inc.;

- St. Joseph’s Health Centre;

- The Children’s Foundation of Guelph-Wellington; and

- The Nightingale Centre.

Each charity received $5,000 to support their pandemic relief efforts in the community.

For 30 years, the Rotary Club ran a physical duck race on Canada Day at Riverside Park in Guelph. It has grown into one of the community’s most popular fundraising events. Due to COVID-19, the Club was forced to replace the physical event with a virtual version.

“It was important that we continue this event in some way. We felt the charities that we had chosen to support had been hit hard by COVID and needed our help now, more than ever,” said J. Martin Van Dam, club spokesperson.

“We couldn’t do it alone. On behalf of the Rotary Club, we wish to thank all our sponsors and ticket purchasers who were instrumental in making this financial support a reality.”

Van Dam says the Club anticipates continuing its duck race in a virtual form in 2021, and will announce further details in the spring.