Wrexham family raise £3,312 at annual Harry's Duck Race

On Sunday, September 1 at Pontblyddyn Cricket Club, a good crowd gathered for the annual Harry’s Duck Race.

The memorial event and fun day is hosted by the Jones family of Wrexham whose son, Harry, died in 2005 after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia in his sleep.

Harry was just four years old.

Jeff Jones, Harry’s dad sounds the hooter as the first ducks go in (Image: Hope House Ty Gobaith)

Attended by Wrexham Mayoress, Beryl Blackmore, the day saw hundreds of yellow ducks race down a small stretch of the River Alyn in a series of heats followed by a final.

There’s also a fancy dress competition for larger ducks.

Revellers enjoyed the races, a raffle, stalls, barbecue, bar, face painting for the kids and other games all to help raise funds for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith.

Some of the super creative fancy dress ducks (Image: Hope House Ty Gobaith)

After Harry’s death, the Jones family went to stay in the special Snowflake Suite at Hope House hospice in Oswestry.

The Snowflake Suite is a dedicated bedroom, lounge and private garden where families can say goodbye to their children after they have died, in their own time and in their own way. The family also accessed bereavement counselling through the hospice.

Mum, Julia Jones said: “We are so grateful to everybody who came out to enjoy the day, raise money for this wonderful cause and help us remember our precious Harry.

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“A huge thank you goes to all our kind sponsors and the Mayoress for coming along to officiate proceedings.

“It was a lovely afternoon and very well supported.”

Wrexham area fundraiser for Hope House Tŷ Gobaith, Bethan Young said: “What a great day and turn out from the local community.

“It was so much fun and great to see so many happy faces and the standard of fancy dress on the big ducks was incredible.

“Our thanks go to Julia and family for their continued support and to everybody who bought ducks for the races and took part in all the games. See you next year.”