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July 27, 2012

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University Track and Field program will facilitate a raffle in the form of the first Viking Duck Race as a community project and fundraiser. Over $11,000 in prizes will be up for grabs including the top prize of $5,000. Thirty local businesses have donated prizes for the raffle including a week's stay at a resort in Central Oregon, rounds of golf, massages, car detailing, dental services, San Juan flight-seeing tours, restaurant gift certificates, salon products and services, local jewelry, and much more.

A duck race is a large scale raffle in which numbered rubber ducks are raced down a flowing body of water with the first ducks to cross the established finish line winning the various raffle prizes. The raffle is intended to raise money for WWU's track team as well as the Greater Bellingham Running Club (GBRC) and Girls on the Run of the YMCA.

"The Viking Duck Race is a community event that we are looking to launch this year," said race director Keever Henry, who serves as an assistant cross country and track coach at WWU. "The goal is to generate necessary funds for our continued success as a track program as well as help out two local nonprofits in the GBRC and Girls on the Run. It should be a lot of fun."

Ducks can be purchased up to and including the day of the race at various venues throughout the summer including the Northwest Washington Fair and local athletic races. Raffle tickets can also be purchased at Klicks Running Store, Fairhaven Runners and Walkers, and Plateau Runners located in Sammamish, Wash. Raffle tickets are $5 each.

"Our goal for year one is to raise $20,000 to $30,000," Henry said. "We hope this race becomes a community event that people really look forward to.

The first Viking Duck Race is set for Saturday, September 29. The ducks are scheduled to be dropped into the Nooksack River at 11 a.m. from the Main Street Bridge in Ferndale. The race is presented by Club Northwest, ioCreative, Northwest Dental, Snapworks Photography, and WWU Track.

For more information, a full prize list, how to purchase raffle tickets, and event sponsorship please visit the Viking Duck Race website at www.bellinghamduckrace.com.