Manchester Duck Race is a fun-packed day out – and raises money for a great cause

A firm favourite in Manchester’s Easter events schedule, the fun-packed Manchester Duck Race is back for its 11th year. And this one looks set to be the biggest and best yet. 

The entertainment kicks off at the River Irwell at New Bailey, on Good Friday 10th April at 11am sharp. The event is held in aid of children’s charity Brainwave, who provide specialist therapy programmes for children with disabilities. 

Simply buy a rubber duck from Brainwave’s website – prices start at just £1 – and cross your fingers that your duck will be one the three fastest to cross the finish line. If it is, you’ll win one of many amazing prizes, such as a Eurocamp holiday for you and your family. 

And don’t worry, all the ducks are collected from the river following the race, and recycled. Ducks from the last two years have been turned into useful household items, such as plastic buckets. 

The money raised will help children with a range of conditions including autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, funding Brainwave’s team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, learning development specialists and speech and language therapists. 

It will allow them to develop individual therapy programmes for children, allowing them to reach their full potential and achieve greater independence. 

This can prove life-changing. Children who couldn’t move are now able to now walk, those who couldn’t make a sound now giggle, and children who were under-achieving at school are now seeing massive improvements. 

One in 20 children in the UK have a disability, and may struggle to reach the milestones that many of us take for granted. Brainwave’s mission is to help as many of these children as they can, and these events go a long way to helping them in their cause. 

It costs Brainwave around £3,000 per child to provide their services, and the charity doesn’t receive government funding, relying on voluntary donations and fundraising events like this. 

And you can help. Simply go to brainwave.org.uk and buy a duck for £1, or you can even buy up to 100 (please note: you must be over 16 to buy one of the ducks). 

And if you work for a business in Manchester and are looking to offer a helping hand to support a vital charity, you can purchase one of the special Corporate Ducks for £250. You and your staff can decorate these snazzy little toys however you like, with the goal of winning the special Best Dressed Duck competition. 

These ducks take part in a race of their own and they’ll get a whole lot of coverage on Brainwave’s social media channels before and after the event. Be sure to let your boss know about this great opportunity.

But most of all, prepare for an amazing fun-packed day out, surrounded by like-minded people, with the added bonus of helping an important charity provide their services for children who desperately need it. 

These are the kind of events that make Manchester the great, compassionate, fun-loving city it is – and you can get involved today.

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