Can’t duck the fun in Westlake Village
By Jennifer Ludlow
Acorn Staff Writer

QUACKY FRIENDS-Westlake High School tenth-grader Taryn Woolly, dressed up as the duck, greets little Sydney Grossman, 3, at last weekend's Great Conejo Duck Race on Westlake Lake. Sydney's dad keeps a watchful eye.

One winning rubber ducky and 11,999 of its closest friends competed Sunday in the third Annual Great Conejo Duck Race held at Westlake Landing.

Spectators adopted rubber ducks in the hopes that their duck would be first to float across the finish line.

At one point two ducks broke away from the pack and raced "bill- to-bill" for first place recognition. Before long, however, the two were lost back in the pack as the others caught up and thousands of duck drifted together toward the finish line.

The race is the signature fundraising event of Many Mansions, a nonprofit organization that gives hope and homes to over 1,000 low-income adults and children in the Conejo Valley.

The Otto Stoll Children’s Fund that assists low-income children with scholarships so they can participate in sports and other extra circular activities also receives funds from the race.

The fundraising goal was to surpass the $25,000 last year’s event raised. One-hundred businesses helped sponsor the event, and 60 volunteers supported the race on Sunday, which attracted the largest crowd ever.

The ducks went for $5 each or a "Six-Quack" of ducks could be adopted for $25. Each duck had a number on the bottom, and three ducks were designated as one mil