Annual Duck Race gets competitive for a good cause

Yahoo

14-05-2025

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – This year's Duck Race will be one to remember, whether attendees were in the water or nice and dry outside watching.
In addition to providing crucial community support, Beach Care Services also gives us an unforgettable event.
'We plan this every year. This is like my 13th year, 12th year, something like that. And we start planning this in January. So it takes from January to now. And we try to put on the best event, and a lot of bragging rights and a lot of community leaders come in, and we really enjoy having everybody help us out,' Duck Wrangler David Boatwright said.
Although the best overall time wins, several of the races got personal as rivalries were tested, as you can imagine News 13's race got competitive.
Although it was beak to beak, in the end, News 13's Ethan Logue took a final dive to victory.
And just when you thought it couldn't get any more competitive, Panama City Beach Police Officers and Firefighters proved everyone wrong.
It was a battle that audience members eagerly watched. With Panama City Beach Fire eventually extinguishing the boys and girls in blue.
And while Tuesday's Duck Race was all fun and games, Beach Care Services outreach is very serious.
'It's one of my biggest loves about this, that it goes right into our own community, and everybody needs a little help sometimes. So you can apply for it at care services board and get some short-term emergency help,' Boatwright said.
Anyone who missed this year's fun, don't make the same mistake next year.
'Especially if your new business is one of the best ways for you to spend some extra money and get some good local marketing for your business. So I would say, you know, this is kind of an early call to maybe get some of your business noticed next year,' Boatwright added.
Referee Boatwright said they work to make the event bigger and better every year, even giving a hint that in the future they might create a designated trophy the police and firefighters can pass back and forth every year.
For more information about Beach Care Services, click here.
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