I was feeling just ducky last week.

I ran across Kirkland resident Scott Rethke at the Friday Night Market at Juanita Beach, standing out in front of a table of yellow rubber duckies.

Since this will be my first year attending Kirkland’s Fourth of July festivities this weekend, Rethke explained to me what the ducks were all about.

Each year on the Fourth of July, the Kirkland Rotary has a Duck Dash, which benefits the Kirkland Rotary. The event continues to grow, and currently raises more than $40,000 after deduction for prizes.

Prizes, you say?

If your duck’s beak crosses the finish line first, you win a grand prize of $5,000. Other prizes include a $450 gift certificate for the Woodmark Hotel on Lake Washington; a one night weekend stay at the Heathman Hotel, $60 gift certificate for The Grape Choice, all the way down to a gift bag full of goodies at Trader Joe’s, worth $50.

To get in on the race, just adopt a duck for $5, or you can adopt a “value pack” of five ducks for only $20. You don’t have to be present for your adopted duck to win, though feel free to cheer the ducks on during the race, which begins at 4 p.m. at Marina Park Saturday.

I’m hoping my duck will get me the grand prize, though I would certainly love a weekend getaway at a luxurious Kirkland hotel.

But besides the prizes, I’m glad to help out the Kirkland Rotary, which supports causes such as scholarships for our Kirkland high schools, winter coats for kids, Miracle Baseball League, Boys & Girls Club and even polio eradication.

As of Monday, Kirkland Rotarian and former Mayor Bill Woods called to inform me 14,000 ducks have been adopted so far. Now that deserves three quacks!

For information, visit the Rotary Web site at www.kirklandrotary.org.