Professional rubber duck’s took to the course at Bridgeport Park Saturday for Samuel Dixon Family Health Center’s 10th annual Gotta Regatta.
The annual fundraiser for the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center made a course at the park where rubber ducks which were sponsored by people throughout the community would race down in effort to be the first to cross the finish line.
The grand prize was a $2,500 gift certificate to Southwest Airlines.
Cheryl Laymon, director of Samuel Dixon Center, was pleased with the turnout and happy that after ten years the rubber ducks are still able to bring people together and help out the center, she said.
“Ten years ago we wanted to create an event that would bring the parents and kids together for some family fun,” Laymon said. “Someone mention ducks, and we said why not. And it worked.”
The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center which strives to offer quality care and services at an affordable price for those insured, uninsured, and under insured received a $90,000 donation from Kaiser Permanente.
More than 3,000 ducks competed throughout the day.
The ducks weren’t the only athletes in attendance as Santa Clarita’s local Olympians were presented with the key to the city by Mayor Pro Tem Bob Keller.
Olympian Alyisa Montano (picture left) and Olympian Lashinda Demus (pictured right) were in attendance to recieve the honor.
“There is nothing but love that comes from this city,” said Lashinda Demus, who won a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics in the 400-meter hurdles. “It’s hard to go out there and take on the world by yourself, but with the support of Santa Clarita I know I’m good.”