Great Norwich Duck Race set to set sail down at Norwich Riverside
Charity race to raise funds for scouting and local hospice charity
The Great Norwich Duck Race is set to take place today at 2pm (Sunday 12th July) at Norwich Riverside, bringing together around 10,000 rubber ducks in a race downstream to be crowned the champion.
Organised by the 1st Norwich Sea Scouts in partnership with Norwich City Council, the event is part of the Lord Mayor’s celebrations.
Funds raised from the duck race will support local scouting initiatives, the Lord Mayor’s charity, and the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity.
Everyone is welcomed to purchase a duck ( £2) with the chance of winning £500 for first place.
Charles Bartram, commonly known as the Chief Duck, explained the long-standing tradition of the race, which began in 2010 to raise funds for building a new scout hall.
"Each year the committee have a discussion to see which charities we think we would like to support and then we have a vote on the ones that get put forward. And Priscilla Bacon Lodge was the one that got chosen this year."
Priscilla Bacon work with The East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust to support people affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement across Norfolk.
They fund services to ensure that people across the county live as well as possible, including family support, therapy, transport, specialist equipment, and a comprehensive bereavement service.
Charles said that Priscilla Bacon is a great charity to be supporting:
"everybody is going to reach a point in their life where they need support of some sort. The Priscilla Bacon Lodge, as I know from personal experience, looks after people at end of life and they do it wonderfully."
Excitement has grown for the event over the last few years,
"it's odd to think that plastic ducks drifting down a river would be exciting, but it really is for that 10 minutes of the race,"
"it's done us good and it's done the local charities we also support good" said Charles.