Like water off a duck’s back, Ducktona 500 raises more than $8,500 for Dallas Can! Academy

Just hours before the Ducktona 500 was slated to start, dark clouds filled the sky over Hawaiian Falls in The Colony. Band after band of showers swept across the waterpark, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. And it certainly didn’t bother the  bright yellow toy ducks as they “raced” around the Kona Kooler “Lazy River” at a leisurely pace. 

"It was amazing to see all 10,000 ducks in the water all at one time," said Cheryl Rios, vice president of Communications for Dallas Can!Academy. "In spite of the rain, it was so much fun. We definitely want to hold the Ducktona 500 at Hawaiian Falls again next year."

Sponsors paid five dollars to adopt a duck before the race. In exchange for their support, Hawaiian Falls let supporters in for half off the daily admission price. The first-year event raised $8,515 for Dallas Can! Academy. Stacey Geringer of Dallas won a $1500 Visa gift card when duck #05345 floated across the finish line first. 

KLTY-FM radio personalities Frank Reed and Bonnie Curry broadcast live from the event. After the race, Reed told his listeners, “We have got to do this event again. It was absolutely amazing.”

Dallas Can! Academy's mission is to provide a second chance for at-risk youth and their families to achieve economic independence and hope for a better life through relationship-based education and training. Dallas Can! Academy runs a high school program for 9th - 12th grade. More information at www.dallascan.org.

Hawaiian Falls waterparks in The Colony, Garland and Mansfield are open daily 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Friday nights until 8 p.m. Upcoming special events and park information is online at www.hfalls.com.

Ducktona 500 video is online at http://www.neighborsgo.com/video/2597