CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Chicago Ducky Derby was a huge success Thursday for Special Olympics Illinois.
Seventy-five thousand rubber ducks were dropped in the Chicago River at Columbus, and then raced their way to Michigan Avenue. Alexandra McMillan spokesperson for Special Olympics Illinois said that’s a record, along with the more than $450,000 raised.
“The proceeds benefit Special Olympics Illinois programming year-around. We offer 18 different sports that athletes compete in year-around, throughout the entire state, and we serve more than 21,000 athletes throughout,” said McMillan.
Ella Stoklosa is one of those athletes.
“I compete in 10 sports- volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, skeet golf, snowshoeing, running,” Stokolosa said.
Ella also competed on the national basketball team. She shared that in her ten year athletic career she has met a lot of celebrities, but her favorite?
“Kyle Hendricks, of the Chicago Cubs,” Stoklosa revealed.
Kyle Tuckey from Palatine was this year’s Chicago Ducky Derby Athlete Ambassador. He pulled the lever at the Columbus Bridge, releasing the ducks. He also held up the winning duck at the Michigan Avenue finish line where he wore several medals around his neck that he won competing for Team USA this year.
“They changed my life, without them I wouldn’t be in the Special Olympics and I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Tuckey said.
But It’s not just medals that he’s collected in 20 years as a Special Olympics athlete.
“That’s how I’ve made almost all my friends is through Special Olympics,” added Tuckey.
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