Rubber duck race in aid of aspiring model

The race started at 13:00 at Friend's Café on June 4.

June 12, 2022

Chelsea Pieterse 1 minute read

Rubber ducks are released into the Gladdespruit.

Lowvelders had to get all their ducks in a row on Saturday June 4 in a bid to raise funds for a local professional model, Monica Viljoen. The Diva Bathtub Duck Race, according to Monica’s mother, Niki Viljoen, was planned to launch 1 000 yellow rubber ducks into the river at Friend’s Cafe to race to the Volle Evangelie Kerk.

ALSO READ: Local woman fights attacker off with pepper spray

Viljoen said they only managed to initially launch about 150 rubber ducks, but fun was had by all nonetheless. The race started at 13:00 at Friend’s Café. The ducks were thrown into the Gladdespruit and drifted down past Montana Garden Pavilion to the finish line at the church.

Children and their parents watch their rubber ducks race down the Gladdespruit.

Tickets were sold between 11:00 and 12:30 at Friends Café on the race day, and the owners of the first three ducks to cross the line received a cash prize. The first prize of R5 000 went to Jenna Botha. Second place went to Simone Odendaal, who received a cash prize of R3 000, and third place went to Pieter Engelbrecht, who won R2 000.

ALSO READ: Suspect (33) arrested for murder in Lydenburg

A lucky draw was also held. The prizes included a one-night stay at Pumba Wild Farm (won by Bennie Voster) and one weekend away in Hazyview (won by Ben de Winnar and Natasha Smit).

All the funds raised at the race will go towards ensuring Monica gets to attend the International Modeling and Talent Association in New York next month.