Kristen Fortney, 4, perched on her father’s shoulders while sister Kayla, 6, watched in awe as 8,000 ducks floated down Stones River in the Child Advocacy Center’s annual Rubber Duck Derby.
Father Johnny Fortney chanted “ducky, ducky” as he and his daughters crowded with several hundred spectators to watch the race after children bounced in the inflatables and pet animals at Middle Tennessee Medical Center’s Family Fun Festival. They adopted two ducks.
People adopted 7,098 ducks, about 3,000 more ducks than last year’s first duck derby. Funds will be used by the CAC whose staff helps physically and sexually abused children and drug-endangered children.
The Rev. Murray Mathis and his wife, Loretta, watched the ducks floating rather than racing.
“Those ducks are reluctant,” Mathis observed. “It’s pretty neat. It’s exciting so many people got out.”
Both he and his wife said money goes to a good cause to help children.
Children with painted faces from the family festival chanted, “swim ducks, swim ducks” to speed the ducks along.
Queen of the Quackers Kristin Demos plucked the fastest ducks from Stones River.
The fastest duck adopted by Deanna Thurow won her a trip for four to Disney World.
Other winners were:
• Jenny Fayter: Second prize, a 2008 scooter from Sloan’s.
• Drs. Ron Blockley and Christine Hoffman: Third prize, Four box tickets to the MTSU-Texas State football game Nov. 22.
• Melinda Ashburn: Fourth prize, a $500 gift certificate to Bell Jewelers.
• Renee Miller: Fifth prize, a $500 gift certificate to Demos’ restaurant.
• Chuck Farrer: Sixth prize, an autographed guitar by country music entertainer Chris Young.
• Dawn Witty: Seventh prize, a UT sports pack of an autographed football by Phil Fulmer and autographed basketballs by Bruce Pearl and Pat Summit.
• Jack Miller: Eighth prize, a $50 gift certificate from Elrod and Co., an engraved bracelet from Mullins Jeweler and Gifts, a spa pack from Angels Crossing and a $50 savings bond from SunTrust Bank.
• William Watson: Ninth prize, a $125 car detail from Reddell Honda, gift basket from Top of the Block and a $100 gift certificate to Antiques Unlimited.
• Twana Hockett: Tenth prize, Season tickets to Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
CAC board treasurer Sheryl Smith said CAC will notify the winners who must pick up the prizes within 30 days. People may call the office at 867-9000.
MTMC vice president Timm Glover said the family fest was worth of the CAC mission.
“What’s more precious than our children?” Glover asked, adding, the more vulnerable children are worth of the CAC mission to help them heal.
CAC board member Beth Parker said “loving, carrying parents” who brought their children to the vent are “helping children who aren’t so fortunate.”
CAC Executive Director Sharon De Boer said thanked the community for serving children.
“It is the belief of the Child Advocacy Center that children deserve the best, especially in their times of crisis,” De Boer said. “The CAC Board of Directors, staff and volunteers want to thank the Rutherford County Community for sharing that belief and supporting child abuse, child sexual abuse and drug endangered children and their non-offending parents and grandparents.”
Demos, who chaired the event with a committee of volunteers, said the race was “great. It far exceeded our expectations.”
Lucy Whitesell, who donated the trip to Disney World with her husband, District Attorney William Whitesell, thanked everyone who adopted a duck, donated prizes, volunteered and attended the event.
CAC board Vice Chairman William Whitesell said the event was about kids having a good time.
“We see kids every day being abused and not having a good time,” Whitesell said, adding through the CAC, “hopefully, they will be able to come and have a good time too.”
The race pulled the community together for an exciting race, he said. “I was just honored to be part of it.”
|
Email
Print
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!