Shelby, Ohio (August 20, 2024) - Hudson’s Duck Drop, a fundraising event held in memory of Hudson Curren, raised $10,750 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio July 20, 2024. A total of 870 rubber ducks were dropped from Shelby’s Main Street bridge and made their way down the Black Fork - Mohican River to the finish line at the Parrot Head Pub.
“We were hoping to have 600 ducks this year in honor of Hudson’s 6th birthday, but this far-exceeded my expectations. This is only our second year of holding the Duck Drop and it’s been an incredibly healing experience for our family,” said Charlie Curren, Hudson’s father. “Hearing Hudson’s name spoken by so many and on all of our signage and shirts softens the edges of our grief. It means a lot, as does our dedicated group of volunteers who help us out during the event. Hudson’s Duck Drop wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community in sponsoring ducks, donating prizes to our silent auction, buying Duck Drop shirts and stickers, attending the event, and sharing our content on social media.”
Each rubber duck was numbered and sponsored by a donation. Donations came in from across the country, California to New Jersey. The top five finishers and the last place duck were announced and awarded prizes by Jaxon Curren, Hudson’s older brother.
1st place: $200 - Duck #114, Cooper Sampsel
2nd place: $75 - Duck #705, Aleta Rowe
3rd place: $50 - Duck #63, Monica Robinson
4th place: $50 gift card to Outback Steakhouse - Duck #632, Terri McWaters
5th place: $25 gift card to Parrot Head Pub - Duck #502, Jason Ball
Last place: Hudson’s Duck Drop Stickers - Duck #481, Jerry Roth
Proceeds from the event were donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. Jaxon Curren hand-delivered the check for $10,750 to Ronald McDonald House in Columbus on July 24, Hudson’s birthday.
“Hudson would have loved a duck drop,” said Jaxon Curren. “My friends and I were responsible for dropping the ducks from the bridge this year. It was an honor to announce the winners and to present the check. Ronald McDonald House offers hope and togetherness for families like ours. It’s important for other kids who have to go to Nationwide Children’s Hospital to have a safe place for them and their parents.”
The Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, Ohio, is located directly across the street from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Open 365 days a year, the House helps facilitate family-centered care that fosters health and well-being for the whole family.
“Ronald McDonald House became a lifesaver for us when we needed it most,” said Kate Curren, mother of Hudson Curren. “The opportunity to give back and support families in similar situations is incredibly humbling and heartwarming. During last year’s Duck Drop, we were so moved by everyone who shared their Ronald McDonald House stories with us. We heard similar stories this year, but also heard from people who thanked us for helping them understand what Ronald McDonald House actually is and why it’s so vitally important. They’d heard of it of course, but had no idea of the impact.”
Hudson’s Duck Drop is an act of love and managed primarily within the family, but is quickly becoming an important summer event for other members of the community.
Hudson’s Duck Drop 2024 received support and sponsorship from the Parrot Head Pub, Life is Sweet Cakery, the City of Shelby, the Shelby Police Department, Marigold Bakery, Buckeye Bakery, Hudson & Company, the Seibert Family, Bernie Fernandez, 419 Eats, DLX, Tito’s Cantina and Grill, MVP’s Sports Bar & Grill, Neeley Dirt Works, Affordable Bounce Houses and Water Slides of Ohio, J&S Concrete, L&L Cleaning Crew, Sluss Realty, Ted & Ali’s, Black Fork Brewery, Clair Erlsten Ekin, and other community organizations and volunteers.
“When our grandson became ill, Ronald McDonald House allowed our kids to stay close to our grandson,” said Randy Sampsel, owner of Parrot Head Pub and grandfather of Hudson Curren. “It’s a wonderful organization. The more people we talk to, the more we realize Ronald McDonald House has touched a lot of lives. This is a pay-it-forward opportunity for us to give back. We’re so fortunate to have the location and the facilities here to support this event in honor of Hudson.”
Parrot Head Pub strives year-round to mitigate flooding and keep the river beautiful, and Hudson’s Duck Drop is no exception. A safety net at the finish line and volunteers in the water guide the rubber ducks and prevent any from being left behind.
The Curren Family is already making plans for Hudson’s Duck Drop 2025 and continuing to share the love Hudson brought into their lives while raising awareness of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Those interested in being part of next year’s event are encouraged to follow Hudson’s Duck Drop on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
About Hudson’s Duck Drop: Hudson’s Duck Drop is an annual, family-friendly event with live music, food trucks, games for kids, prizes and fun. The first Hudson’s Duck Drop was held in July of 2023 to celebrate the life of Hudson Curren, provide a family-friendly event to the community who rallied around the Curren family during Hudson’s 3-month battle, and as an opportunity for Hudson’s legacy to continue in support to other families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Hudson’s Duck Drop 2023 far surpassed the family’s original goal of 200 ducks, dropping 580 ducks from the bridge and raising $6k for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. The original goal for 2024 was to drop 600 ducks in honor of what would have been Hudson’s 6th birthday. The organizers and volunteers were thrilled to drop 870 ducks, raise awareness and $10,750 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, and once again bring the community together in the heart of downtown Shelby.
About Hudson Curren: Hudson Curren was born prematurely on July 24, 2018. In May 2019, he began having seizures and was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease known as Alpers, a mutation of the POLG gene, which drastically decreases the amount of energy able to be produced by the body’s cells. The diagnosis meant he would have many month-long stays at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, including a medically-induced coma. During those hospital stays, Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio offered his parents, Charlie and Kate, the ability to stay nearby - right across the street from the hospital. Hudson fought to survive, but passed away at home, just after his first birthday, on August 31, 2019. The Curren family continues to utilize the services of Ronald McDonald House as Hudson’s older brother now faces medical challenges. In total, the family has spent nearly 100 nights in a Ronald McDonald House.