DUCK racers are set to have a quacking time on Monday. Thousands of toy ducks will take to the water at the Westcott Recreation Ground as part of the Rotary Club of Old Town's annual Duck Race in aid of the Swindon Cancer Appeal.

Last year's event saw 6,000 ducks hit the water along the River Ray at the recreation ground with a first prize of £750 going to the winner raising a impressive £10,000 for the Swindon Cancer appeal.

Tony Wall, duck master and co-ordinator of the event said: "The response to the event has been fantastic.

"We have already sold 5,500 ducks at £1 each.

"Often we sell about 500 more on the day itself.

"It's very competitive and children love it, running alongside their ducks as they race down stream.

"Everyone's duck is exactly the same. There is no way of giving the ducks extra speed to help it win the race."

Money will also be raised by a Drake race, where individual Drakes are sponsored by local businesses, also for a cash prize.

The race begins at 3.30pm with the race winners announced on the day.

Also taking to the water for the Swindon Cancer Appeal will be the First Swindon Sea Scouts next month.

The scouts, based at Haydon Wick are holding their first-ever Funday to be held at Bowmoor Sailing Club at Lechlade on Saturday, June 25.

The event will be kicked off by a sponsored canoe lift involving several of the sea scouts and explorer scouts, who will carry canoes from Asda Walmart in North Swindon to Cricklade before paddling down the Thames to Castle Eaton.

From there, they will march the canoe the last few miles to sailing club.

Mike Godwin, organiser and Sea Scout leader said: "This is the first time we have held an event like this.

"Cancer is something very close to all our hearts and we felt we wanted to help Macmillan in some way.

"We have a planned a whole range of activities and it should be a great day out for everyone who comes along."

Gates open for the event at noon.

The event concludes at around 10.30pm and will include barbeques, fun and games on land and of course the water and a concert from a band called MLC.

Proceeds from the event will be divided, half going to the Sea Scouts and the other half going to the Macmillan Swindon Cancer Appeal.

Tickets for the event are priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for children, with a family ticket priced £12. The tickets are available by calling Steve Iles on 07885 188079.

So far, more than £100,000 had rolled into the fundraising account in two months.

The grand total now stands at just over £700,000 taking us ever closer to the magic £1 million target.

The Swindon Cancer Appeal is also hoping to provide a training post for a Macmillan specialist breast care cancer nurse.

In addition we want to provide a training post for another nurse specialising in gastrointestinal cancer.

Money raised is also going to provide a Macmillan clinical psychologist who will specialise in cancer and palliative care.

For more information about the Swindon Cancer Appeal call the appeal office on 01793 432252 or 01793 432253.

Anthony Osborne