A Weekend of Ducks, Volunteers and Giving Back

Thousands of pounds for local causes, a few very large ducks and a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together.

Last weekend, I swapped accounts, tax returns and business meetings for something a little different. A load of rubber ducks, plenty of laughter and a fantastic day raising money for our local community!

On Sunday, 20 September 2026, I joined my fellow Rotary Club members in Great Yarmouth for our sponsored duck race.

And what a day it was!

Eighteen months of being part of something special

I’ve been a member of my local Rotary Club for around 18 months now, and it’s something I’m genuinely pleased to be part of.

One of the things I enjoy most about Rotary is the people. I’m surrounded by a fantastic group of individuals from different backgrounds who share a genuine desire to make a difference.

Everyone brings something different to the table, whether that’s their business experience, their connections, their organisational skills or simply their willingness to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in.

What brings us together is a shared commitment to supporting our local community, helping local businesses and raising money for causes that really need it.

As someone who runs businesses and works closely with other business owners, I know how valuable it is to be surrounded by people who genuinely want to help others succeed.

But Rotary takes that a step further. It’s not just about making connections or talking about supporting the community. It’s about actually getting out there and doing something.

And this weekend was a perfect example.

On your marks, get set… DUCK!

Our sponsored duck race in Great Yarmouth brought together local businesses, families, volunteers and members of the public for a day of fun and fundraising.

And there were ducks of all shapes and sizes!

We had some rather impressive large corporate ducks, each branded by a local business that had paid to sponsor its entry.

It was brilliant to see so many businesses getting involved, supporting the event and proudly displaying their branding on their ducks.

We also held smaller duck races, giving members of the public the opportunity to buy an entry and have a chance of winning a cash prize.

There was plenty of excitement, a bit of friendly competition and, of course, a lot of cheering for rubber ducks!

The event was really well attended, and it was wonderful to see so many people coming along to support us.

Sometimes fundraising doesn’t need to be complicated. Get a group of enthusiastic volunteers together, add a few hundred rubber ducks and a little competitive spirit, and you’ve got the ingredients for a fantastic day.

The serious side of a very silly race

Of course, behind all the fun and laughter was a much more important reason for organising the event.

Raising money to support worthwhile causes in our local community.

We’re still calculating the final amount raised, but we’re expecting the total to be in the tens of thousands of pounds.

That’s a fantastic achievement, and every penny raised will help us support special causes and make a real difference locally.

It’s easy to forget just how much work goes into organising an event like this.

There are sponsors to find, ducks to prepare, arrangements to make, volunteers to coordinate and countless other jobs that need doing before the first duck even enters the water.

And then there’s the event itself!

What I particularly admire about my fellow Rotary members is the amount of time and effort they willingly give, often alongside running their own businesses, working full-time or managing their family commitments.

Nobody does it for recognition. They do it because they genuinely care about helping others.

Local businesses making a difference

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about the weekend was seeing the support from our local business community.

Sponsoring a corporate duck might provide a bit of publicity and some friendly competition, but ultimately it’s about businesses coming together to support the community in which they operate.

And I think that’s something worth celebrating.

Our local businesses do far more than simply provide goods and services. They create employment, support other businesses, sponsor community events and contribute to the places where we live and work.

It’s great to see that community spirit in action.

Making time for something outside the business

Sometimes stepping away from your desk and doing something completely different is exactly what you need.

If you’ve read my previous blog about building a business that doesn’t need me for everything, you’ll know that I’m trying to create more time for the things that matter to me.

That includes spending more time working directly with my clients, but it also means making time for life outside the office.

Being involved with Rotary is part of that.

Running your own business can become all-consuming if you let it. There’s always another email to answer, another task to finish or another problem that needs solving.

It’s very easy to convince yourself that you’re too busy to do anything else.

But spending a day volunteering, meeting people, having a laugh and knowing that your efforts are helping others is incredibly rewarding.

And, let’s face it, how often do you get to spend your Sunday racing giant rubber ducks?

A big thank you

I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.

To my fellow Rotary members and all the volunteers who worked so hard organising and running the event.

To the local businesses that sponsored our corporate ducks and helped make the event possible.

And to everyone who came along, entered a race, cheered on their ducks or simply supported the day.

It was fantastic to see Great Yarmouth come together for such a worthwhile cause.

Once we’ve calculated the final fundraising total, I’m looking forward to seeing just how much we’ve raised and the difference that money will make to our local community.