Football season is back, but there’s one game day around the corner that won’t be on the big screen.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill will be hosting the O’Brien’s Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies “Duck Cancer” Derby. The event, created by a group of friends in 2011, sponsors the lighthearted event for a serious cause: cancer research.
Participants can purchase rubber ducks for $5 each. There is no cap on how many ducks can be purchased.
In groups of 100, ducks will be set up on a track outside of O’Brien’s and shot into a pool of water, where they are pushed by jets to the finish line.
The winners from each round will continue to race until there is a final winning duck. Prizes for the winners include week-long resort getaways and three-day cruises. Companies can also participate in a separate race by purchasing a corporate duck for $100 dollars, which includes food and an open bar. All of the money raised from the event will go towards H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Faces of Courage.
This is the first year that the event will be held at Plant City’s O’Brien’s. In February 2016, the derby will be held at O’Toole’s in Brandon. O’Brien’s in Brandon will host the event in May 2016.
“O’Brien’s has supported this event in Brandon and sold ducks but never held it here,” O’Brien’s owner Mike Goodwin said. “I kind of thought Plant City should have its own and raise money as well.”
The derby is especially important to longtime O’Brien’s employees and patrons. In January, founder Bernie O’Brien lost his life to colon cancer.
“It hits close to home for the O’Brien’s family,” Goodwin said.
Since 2011, Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies has raised over $60,000 for cancer research. Because this is the first year that the Plant City O’Brien’s has hosted the event, it did not set specific fundraising goals. However, since Aug. 15, six servers have already sold five corporate ducks and 100 regular ducks each.
“Everybody’s been excited about it,” Goodwin said. “Plant City has a very generous heart when it comes to charity events. It all goes towards cancer. Everyone is touched in some way, shape or form.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com
IF YOU GO
Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies Duck Cancer Derby
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill, 1701 S. Alexander St.
Cost: $5 per duck; $100 per corporate duck; $10 dollars for a Super “Emerald Isle” Duck, which will compete at races in both Brandon and Plant City.
Visit: DuckCancer.com
FUTURE DERBY DATES
O’Toole’s Brandon: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016
O’Brien’s Brandon: Friday, May 6, 2016