A crowd of thousands gathered to watch rubber ducks set afloat on the Chicago River on Wednesday afternoon for the annual Chicago Ducky Derby, which benefits Special Olympics Illinois and its athletes.
Organizers dropped 100,000 rubber ducks into the water from the Columbus Drive Bridge and then watched as the ducks raced to the finish line at the Odyssey vessel. Participants adopted a duck for $10 each. Each duck represents an entry to win prizes, including the grand prize of a Chevy Trax.
“The Chicago Ducky Derby is more than a fun race, it’s a celebration of inclusion and a testament to the incredible spirit of our athletes,” says Pete Beale-DelVecchio, president and chief executive of Special Olympics Illinois. “Each duck adopted helps our mission to shape a culture where people with and without intellectual disabilities are fully integrated into the community. We do this by providing year-round opportunities in sports, health education, leadership and personal development.”
Ducks race toward the finish line. This year, Ashley Jones, a Special Olympics Illinois athlete from Hoffman Estates, was chosen to be the 2024 Chicago Ducky Derby Ambassador.
