Ref. 30197-01SWINDON CANCER APPEAL: SUPPORTERS flocked to the River Ray in Rushey Platt to watch a duck race that raised a £10,000 for charity.

Despite the wet weather yesterday, hundreds of people turned out for the race that involved 4,562 plastic ducks.

Mike Dunn, 54, president of the Swindon Old Town Rotary Club, which organises the annual event, gave a running commentary.

He said: "It was a gripping race and we were thrilled so many people came to watch the drama unfold."

Last year's race raised £6,500, so the organisers were delighted with yesterday's total. The majority will go to the Evening Advertiser-backed Swindon Cancer Appeal, which aims to raise £600,000 to provide two Macmillan Nurses and a consultant in palliative care for the town.

The appeal has so far broken the £350,000 mark.

The rest of the money from the duck race will go towards local Rotary Club charities.

People paid £1 to enter a duck in the race, which boasted a £750 cash first prize.

Kim Jones, 30, from Old Town, took her children, Lizzy, six, and Thomas, four, to watch.

She said: "This is our first duck race here and it's certainly good weather for them."

Mrs Jones wanted to support the event because her mother, Patricia, died of cancer, aged 52, last September.

She said: "The support from Macmillan nurses was brilliant. They always had a spare minute for you and this is a way of saying thank you."

Before the duck race there was a corporate drake race, which 85 local companies paid £50 each to enter.

Besides the aquatic action, there was also a car boot sale on the Westcott Recreation Ground. Warneford Big Band provided musical entertainment, including hits from James Bond films.

Ruth and Nick Barrett, from Rushey Platt, have supported the race since it first began four years ago. Their three children Bernadette, six, Alex, 10, and Isobel, 12, enjoyed cheering on the ducks. Mr Barrett was pleased the proceeds would help the Macmillan nurses. He lost his mother, Aileen, to breast cancer eight years ago when she was 54.

He said: "She always spoke very highly of the Macmillan nurses. It is an important charity to support."

Trudy Nolan, 34, and Steve Midwinter, 44, from Old Town, brought their daughter, Bethan, five, to watch the ducks. Bethan said: "It's good fun and for a good cause. I like it."

Victoria Tagg

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