Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Ducks float in the wading pool Saturday at the St. Joseph Aquatic Center.

All that was needed to set 5,000 rubber ducks in motion was Katie Hrenchir’s call of, “Start the jets, boys!”

The army of bath toys was set loose at the St. Joseph Aquatic Center Saturday for the ninth annual Special Olympics duck race fundraiser. The ducks made a full circuit before 10 were plucked from the pool and their owners awarded prizes ranging from a washer and dryer to a $500 savings bond. Ducks were available for purchase before the event or could be purchased on the spot. About 2,500 of the ducks had owners by race time.

Ms. Hrenchir, the associate area director for the Northwest Missouri area of Special Olympics, said the organization relies on the duck race as its biggest fundraiser to pay for things like the Special Olympics athletic events.

“Every year, it gets bigger and bigger,” she said. “... It’s a fun, easy event because they adopt their ducks, and we call everybody on Tuesday, all the winners, and give away the prizes.”

About 70 volunteers, participants and spectators lined the ropes for the race, and a few Special Olympics athletes also were in the crowd.

Joe Hochald, who plays four sports through the organization, said he attends the event every year.

“(It) makes me feel very proud,” Mr. Hochald said. “... A lot of people join in, and they help out.”

Despite clouds and a cool breeze, Clayton Pittman, one of the aquatic managers at the center, spent three hours in the pool shepherding the ducks away from deep water and out of the filters in what he guessed was 65-degree water.

“I think it’s a good organization, and the kids deserve that extra push,” Mr. Pittman said. “It’s a good crowd for a cloudy day.”

Bobbie Cronk and children Jonathan, 8, and Katherine, 5, went to the pool to purchase a family of ducks and support the race.

“I think it’s a great fundraiser because it’s something unique, it’s something that is not done by other groups in town,” she said.