Bad Wörishofen - Probably the most famous ducks in the world are either out of luck or do not give any of their money. That the croaking contemporaries are very good luck charms and help others was proven by 3,400 of them last weekend at the third duck race on the Wörthbach. Around 15,000 euros were raised for a good cause, even if Donald and Dagobert Duck were missing. On the day of the race, only one of the 15 main prize winners was there to pick up his prize.
The majority of rubber ducks rushed along the Bad Wörishofer Stadtbach like a yellow wave, as soon as they were in their element. A good hour before the start, counted down by Manfred Guggenmos, the members of the Rotary Club had put the numbered ducks into the tipping bucket of the telehandler, which was supposed to ensure a fair start. Shortly before the start, the President of the Bad Wörishofer Rotarians, who had been in office for a month, spoke, explained the course of the race and then counted down the start. With a big splash, the 3,400 ducks fell into the Wörthbach above the Guggerhaus and headed for their destination at the Kurtheater.
The evening before they were completely sold out, says Viktoria Lofner-Meir, who had the idea for this charity event four years ago. Thanks to the racing licenses sold, "the Rotary Club Bad Wörishofen can hope for net proceeds of around 15,000 euros, which we can donate to specific projects for flood victims and local clubs," said Lofner-Meir.
Not even 20 minutes after the start, most of the ducks arrived at the finish line, due to the slightly higher water level of the Wörthbach, the flow speed was also higher this year. Based on the experience of the past few years, it was expected that the fastest swimming birds would need a good half an hour. The Rotarians received support from the youth of the fishing club, who lifted the ducks and helped with the fishing. But not only that the youth took on this work on a voluntary basis, they passed on the donation intended for them from the proceeds directly for the victims of the flood disaster in the Ahr valley, reports Lofner-Meir to Wochen KURIER. As reported, the Rotary Club Bad Wörishofen cooperates with the RC Remagen-Ahrtal; the money is to be used for the renovation of a dormitory,in which people with disabilities drowned in the tidal wave. There is no government funding or support for this.
"We were able to determine winners from the duck with the number 39 to the number 3,365," said the former president of the Rotary Club. However, of the winners of the 15 main prizes (worth more than 150 euros) only one or one, a girl with her parents, was present at the award ceremony. "They look forward to a weekend at Guggi's Alm, where they can celebrate with a total of twelve people," says Lofner-Meir. At the finish, numerous onlookers surrounded the team of Rotarians, who, led by their President Manfred Guggenmos, first filtered out the winners and then fished the remaining ducks, which arrived a little later at the finish.
All prizes with the winning numbers are published on the Rotary Club's website at bad-woerishofen.rotary.de under “News from the Club”.
The prices can be picked up at the Jäckle car dealership at Kirchdorfer Straße 80 until the end of November.
List of rubric lists: © Oliver Sommer