A sea of yellow is headed to town as thousands of rubber ducksare looking for someone to adopt them for next month’s DuckDerby.

Members of the King’s Daughters Foundation Ladies League havealready started accepting adoption forms for the second annual DuckDerby that raises money for improvement projects at the medicalcenter.

“Each year we will look at the facilities at the hospital anddetermine an area of strategic need. The Duck Derby allows us tofocus our fund-raising and awareness efforts on that area even asthe hospital is also addressing some of the needs,” said JoAnnaSproles, executive director of the King’s Daughters Foundation.

The derby is scheduled for 5-9 p.m., July 6, at the Hansel KingSports Complex, formerly called the Brookhaven/Lincoln CountySports Complex.

Interest in the race, which starts with the ducks being pouredfrom a dump truck into a trough made of plastic culvert pipes, hasalready started growing in the community as residents learn moreabout the exciting event.

“We’ve already sold more than 700 ducks and we’ve only hadadoption forms available for a couple of weeks,” said SuzanneBritt, president of the Ladies League.

The ducks are selling fast with each one having the possibilityof winning a $5,000 cash prize for first place and $2,500 cashgoing to second place.

Third place will be awarded $1,000 cash, with the fourth andfifth ducks across the line winning one DVD player each asconsolation prizes.

Individuals and businesses can adopt yellow racing ducks bymaking a donation to the King’s Daughters Foundation. Ducks are $6each, and discounts are offered for multiple “adoptions.”

“If someone adopts five ducks we call that a ‘Quack Pack’ and itsaves them $5,” said Britt, explaining that people can adopt fiveducks for $25, rather than $30.

The tax-deductible adoptions can be made by filling out formsthat are available at The DAILY LEADER, most area banks, KDMC giftshops, new automobile dealers, physicians’ offices and Wal-MartSupercenter.

Forms may also be downloaded from the hospital’s website,www.kdmc.org. Completed forms should be mailed or faxed to thefoundation or dropped in boxes set up at KDMC, banks andWal-Mart.

Funds raised from this year’s duck adoptions will be used topurchase items such as new bassinets for the nursery, a neonatalisolette for at-risk newborns, new decor for those areas and itemsneeded in the eight labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum (LDRP)rooms.

Also, the foundation hopes to enlarge the nursery, addcombination DVD/VCRs to each LDRP room and update furnishings.

Last year, funds were used to establish a pediatric unit at thehospital with two pediatric rooms outfitted in colorful,kid-friendly furniture and a treatment room for procedures.

The pediatric unit also received a video game cart and computercart that can be wheeled beside patients’ beds for the children toenjoy.

“All of these items help us cater to young patients by makingthe hospital a less frightening place,” said Britt.