WINONA LAKE – Thousands of plastic ducks floated in the Winona Lake Canal Saturday morning as spectators gathered to cheer on the ducks.
It was Cardinal Services’ Seventh Annual Duck Race fundraiser.
A crowd of approximately 200 people watched as 7,000 ducks were dropped into the canal in front of the Village at Winona.
The ducks were pushed swiftly along by a cooling breeze, making this year’s race the fastest ever.
In the end, the first place duck – and winner of the $5,000 first place prize – belonged to Kenton Blacksten, Warsaw, who purchased his duck at work, Symmetry Medical, earlier in the week.
Other winners were: second, Lora Hackworth, Warsaw; third, Bob Vories, Claypool; fourth, Dave Vetter, Lafayette; fifth, Matt Buehler, Warsaw; sixth, Larry and Shirley Polk, Leesburg; seventh, Becky Whitaker, Warsaw; and eighth, Jacki McCleary, Warsaw.
Cardinal Services is a not-for-profit serving people with intellectual disabilities and families with small children.
Jane Wear, Cardinal Services CEO, thanked sponsors and said the race would not be successful without them.
Wear said this is the last year for the race, as the organization will pursue other fundraising opportunities.
The race was sponsored by Maple Leaf Farms, Toyota of Warsaw, RR Donnelley, Symmetry Medical, Lake City Radio and Times-Union.
