SHELBY – Nobody knows why the chicken crossed the road. But when the ducks drop in Shelby, the purpose is clear: honoring Hudson Curren and raising money for charity.
Hudson’s Duck Drop is back for its fourth year, taking place July 25.
The event honors Hudson, the late son of Charles and Kate Curren, by raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities through the racing of over 1,000 rubber ducks down the Black Fork Mohican River.
The race starts with an initial drop off the Main Street bridge, with its finish line at Parrot Head Pub. The Duck Drop raised more than $18,500 last year, dropping more than 1,100 ducks. The goal is much the same this year.
The ducks are specifically designed, weighted, racing ducks, caught and reused after every race.
“Those ducks are not cheap, and we make sure that we bring them back each year,” Charles said.
After the birth of Charles and Kate’s first son, Jackson, Kate was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis – a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The couple wasn’t anticipating any more children given Kate’s health issues. They describe Hudson’s birth as “a blessing.”
“(Hudson) came into the world in 2018, and we knew he was going to have some health issues; we didn’t know exactly what that was going to be,” Charles said.
“He was a little tiny nugget, just a gorgeous baby, and very special. We spent some time in the NICU at Ohio State, and then they transferred him over to Nationwide (Children’s Hospital).”
The couple had their first introduction to the Ronald McDonald House in the process, spending some time there while Hudson recovered. At about 10 months old, though, setbacks came.
“At 10 months, he started shaking, and then he went into a full-blown seizure that we could not stop without putting him into a medically induced coma that lasted 30 days,” Kate said. “About that time, we found out he had POLG … He just could not make enough energy to keep his body sustained, so we spent a lot of time at Nationwide and at Ronald McDonald House until he passed August 31, 2019.”
POLG is a group of inherited mitochondrial diseases caused by mutations in the POLG gene.
The Ronald McDonald House fed, housed and cared for the Currens for more than 150 days while Hudson fought for life. A partnership with the Ronald McDonald House’s associated charities for the Duck Drop was natural.
“It’s kind of a childish thing, but it would be so fun for kids to watch and do,” Charles said, explaining the idea behind Hudson’s Duck Drop. “We’ll see what happens. If people will adopt 20 ducks, maybe 50 if we’re lucky, we’d be able to donate a little back to the Ronald McDonald House, who took care of us.”
The turnout was more than Charles and Kate could have anticipated, and has continued to grow each year. Part of it has been the larger-than-expected influence of the Ronald McDonald House on the Currens’ community.
“There have been a lot of people, surprisingly, who have used the Ronald McDonald House,” Charles said. “It’s not something that a lot of families talk about, but there are a lot of families that have been through it … and it’s nice to hear their stories.”
Charles and Kate’s partnership with the Ronald McDonald House grew again two years ago, when Jackson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“He has his own doctors now at Nationwide Children’s, and we still utilize the Ronald McDonald House,” Charles said.
“We never thought we’d have to go back in ever, except for to volunteer and to deliver good news to them, and now we’re utilizing it again with our other son … We thought the only time we’d go down is for us to support them, but they’re still supporting us.”
The event, initially meant for just childish fun and charity, has turned into something akin to therapy for families who have been through strife similar to Charles and Kate.
“I’m not great about talking about how I feel, and the sadness with Hudson,” Charles said. “There are times when families go through something like this, and that becomes their world … that’s all they can think about, all they can talk about.
“As time goes on, it’s tougher and tougher to continue to talk about it,” Charles said. “When we have the Duck Drop, it seems like all of a sudden, you have this OK to talk about it again, and talk about the struggles you had.”
Charles and Kate continue to grow the event year after year. Their goal, as always, is to keep the same level of support as last year. However, dropping 1,200 ducks into the Black Fork Mohican River would make it all the more special.
