Soon after culling from the water the first three toy ducks to reach the finish line, YMCA staffers Nae Theberge, left, and Sarah Mulder, take an opportunity to linger in the pool before contacting the winning sponsors of the ""For The Love of the Y Duck Race" hosted at the Merrimack YMCA on July 25, a day designated as National Drowning Prevention Day. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

MERRIMACK – A unique event focused on water safety was presented for the first time on World Drowning Prevention Day, July 25, at the Merrimack YMCA Branch of the YMCA of Greater Nashua, during a fun-filled inaugural “For the Love of the Y Duck Race,” presented at the pool to bystanders, duck sponsors, staff and volunteers.

The aquatic entertainment at the Merrimack YMCA, 6 Henry Clay Drive, was designed as a fundraiser to promote programs that encourage awareness of safe swimming for all ages.

“We are super excited to be holding our first Water Safety Event for World Drowning Prevention Day,” said Nae Theberge, aquatic director.

Contenders in the duck race were 64 toy ducks, sponsored by donors at $10 each. All were tossed into the pool upon a “Ready, Set, Go!” and then blown along one of the pool’s six lanes by a powerful fan.

The bobbing white flock was shoosed along in the water by staffer Nae Theberge, wearing a shark mask and a flexible shark hand puppet.

The flock of floating ducks under power from a large floor fan make their way to the far end of one of the six lanes at the Merrimack YMCA to name the winners of the duck race, a fundraiser for various swimming safety programs. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Lifeguards, duck sponsors and other staffers soon crouched at the far end of the lane to see which duck would touch the wall before any others.

Among the witnesses were young judges from the Bolen Family, residents of Merrimack. The Bolen youngsters on hand, Finley, age 4, and Liam, age 7, earlier in the afternoon had decorated with colored marker pens dozens of the little quackers, numbered for identification as potential winners of the race.

The first three ducks to reach the far end of the lane were plucked out, dried off, and confirmed as winners, whose victory bestowed rewards of $100 to Duck 16, $50 to Duck 57 and $25 to Duck 5. Contact information provided upon sign-up alerted the top three donors of their win.

“The Y is passionate about bringing water safety to our community and we are extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to make this day a success,” she added.

The three YMCA facilities in the region include the Merrimack YMCA, 6 Henry Clay Drive, the Nashua YMCA, 24 Stadium Drive and the Westwood Park YMCA at 90 Northwest Boulevard. A variety of athletic programs for all ages is available at each location.

Completing the list of sponsors for the recent "For The Love of the Y Duck Race" hosted on July 25 to encourage safe swimming practices on World Drowning Prevention Day, July 25, are event organizers, from left, Nae Theberge, aquatics director, Robin Ducharme, vice president of program innovation and quality, Tyler Grzesik, swim instructor, and Sarah Mulder, aquatics director. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

More about the programs offered through the YMCA of Greater Nashua is available online at nmymca.org.

Merrimack residents Finley Bolen, age 4, and Liam Bolen, a 7-year old, demonstrate a flair for art by volunteering to decorate some of the 64 toy ducks that were the stars of the recent duck race at the Merrimack YMCA. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Merrimack YMCA staffer Robin Ducharme tosses a tray of 64 toy ducks into the pool at the Merrimack YMCA to launch the first-ever duck race, an event designed to promote water safety on National Drowning Prevention Day, July 25. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON