This summer, 30 6-foot fiberglass ducks were seen nesting around downtown Eugene. Myriad ducks, decked out in anything from hand prints (“Handy Dandy Duck”) to butterfly wings (“Fleur de Duck”), were visible throughout the city in businesses, courtyards and restaurants. The Big Duck Reunion Tour 2005 was held Aug. 27 to raise community spirit and benefit KIDSPORTS.
KIDSPORTS is a local organization that provides children with the opportunity to participate in team sports. According to its mission statement, “KIDSPORTS is dedicated to Providing
Positive Youth Team Sports Experiences through Family and Community Involvement.”
Through events such as donation-based artwork opportunities and a walk-a-thon, Big Duck event planners wanted to assist KIDSPORTS in its funding of scholarships, coaches, equipment and other organizational necessities.
At the Big Duck Walk-A-Thon, chairwoman and self-proclaimed “Mama Duck” of the event Linda Wheatley said that the duck walk was the perfect event to benefit KIDSPORTS , considering the athletic nature of the walk.
Wheatley didn’t know how many people planners were hoping to draw to the walk, though she was concerned about a lack of publicity.
“There wasn’t a full page ad in the Register Guard (this year),” she said.
When the walk started, fewer than five children were present, and there were fewer than 20 walkers. Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy was hugging walk-a-thon volunteers, and two young children in matching orange shirts ran around hugging any duck they could find.
At the registration table, a stack of more than 30 T-shirts, free to those participating in the walk-a-thon, remained.
After the walk began, volunteers Kathy Langston and Cynthia Dickinson offered their thoughts on why there were fewer children than expected. Both women agreed that the timing of the event, right before elementary school students started classes for fall, might have made it difficult for some families to attend.
Alicia Beymer, a University graduate and event volunteer, said “KIDSPORTS is a great cause.”
Beymer has spent more than 8 years volunteering for KIDSPORTS and said that the organization is a great opportunity for children to experience team sports. Kids such as Beymer’s younger brother, 13, often don’t get a chance to participate in games such as football or soccer because of lack of funding for public schools.
Local artist Donna Briggs also offered support for KIDSPORTS. Wheatley asked Briggs to donate her artistic talent by decorating ducks, including “Doorman Duck” and “Meduckal Rescue.”
“I just like to volunteer,” Briggs said. “KIDSPORTS is a very positive organization.”
At the Walk-A-Thon, Wheatley emphasized that support from the community has been strong, especially from Mayor Kitty Piercy and former Mayor Jim Torrey, who both showed up to the walk. Wheatley also explained that having the ducks set up around the city was something special in itself.
“It’s great that Eugene wanted to have the ducks return for a third year,” Wheatley said. “Look at their faces … the kids pet the ducks, strangers talk (to each other) about the ducks … it’s about community.”

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