Duck Races Top $50,000 in Support of Hospice
The 18th annual Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois Duck Races and Pool Parties, held recently in Barrington and Woodstock, raised more than $50,000 for the nonprofit organization.
All proceeds from both Duck Races will help the agency’s pediatric patients receive the supportive care they need, when their families are unable to pay for the services. HPNI has the largest pediatric hospice and palliative care program in Illinois, called Hope’s Friends. Last year, the agency covered $750,000 for non-reimbursed care services provided to its pediatric population. Many of these young patients have no medical coverage or have depleted their coverage by the time they need hospice and palliative care services.
The annual Hospice Duck Race has been a regular event held in Barrington for 18 years. In spite of strong storms that rolled in the day of the races, the event moved indoors from the Langendorf Park pool and still raised nearly $35,000. In addition, for the third year, HPNI also offered a McHenry Duck Race at Woodstock Water Works and garnered more than $15,000 in proceeds.
At these popular family fun/fund-raising events, participants have a chance to win prizes while supporting pediatric hospice and palliative care. Anyone who purchases a duck–not a live one, but a little plastic one–hopes that it wins one of the races down the pool’s big water slide. Hundreds of ducks careen down the slide at once, making the races very exciting! The ducks are numbered and winners announced after the races.
Before and after the races, families of all shapes and sizes have fun swimming, playing old-fashioned carnival games, dancing to DJ music and enjoying various food items that are available for purchase.
About Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois
Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization serving families throughout McHenry, Lake, Northwest Cook, Kane, Boone and DuPage counties. Celebrating its 28th year of service, the agency provides comprehensive end-of-life care to nearly 1,400 patient families each year. HPNI is Medicare certified and accredited by the Joint Commission.
