Thousands of rubber duckies will ‘race’ this weekend at Huntington Beach Pier

This weekend, rubber duckies won’t be just bath time fun or the subject of a “Sesame Street” tune. They will be used to raise awareness and money.

AltaMed Health Services, a healthcare agency in Huntington Beach that serves the uninsured and underinsured, will host its 24th annual Duck-a-Thon on Saturday and Sunday, when thousands of the ducks will be tossed into the surf off the Huntington Beach Pier in a race of sorts.

Rubber ducks — some made to look like superheroes in keeping with this year’s theme of honoring everyday heroes like police officers and firefighters — are sold for $10 to $20 in the weeks leading up to the event, or $100 for corporate ducks.

Buyers can label their ducks to keep track of them as they are swept to shore. As of Tuesday, the organization had sold 973 ducks, Vega said. Last year, 2,543 were sold.

Participants will drop their ducks off the pier on Saturday. The first 60 ducks that reach the shore win prizes like cash and food for their owners.

Local businesses will race their corporate ducks Sunday.

Sandra Vega, clinic administrator for the agency, said the event typically raises about $130,000 each year for AltaMed. In total, it has raised more than $3 million.

“Our goal is to provide [our clients] with the care they need regardless of if they’re able to pay,” Vega said.

Vega said thousands of people turn out for the event every year.

“There are tons of people that come out and really support the clinic and get really riled up about the ducks,” she said.