Shelby, Ohio (May 16, 2025) - Hudson’s Duck Drop, a fundraising event held in memory of Hudson Curren, is scheduled to take place July 26, 2025, with a new goal of dropping 1000+ rubber ducks from Shelby’s Main Street bridge. Proceeds from the third annual event will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Central Ohio.
“I wanted to create an event to celebrate my son’s life,” said Charlie Curren, Hudson’s father. “I had the idea for a duck drop as a family-friendly event to serve our community and to support other families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.”
Ducks will be dropped from the Main Street Bridge into the Black Fork Mohican River and race to the finish line at the Parrot Head Pub patio. Ducks are individually numbered, and those who adopt the first 3 ducks to cross the finish line (and the last duck to cross the finish line) will win prizes. Ducks can be adopted online and in-person at the Parrot Head Pub. Participants need not be present to win. Hudson’s Duck Drop is a family-friendly event with live music, a food truck, games for kids, prizes, and a silent auction.
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 to guide the rubber ducks prevent any from being left behind.
“Our original goal in 2023 was only 200 ducks, but we ended up dropping 580 ducks from the bridge and raising $6k for RMHC of Central Ohio," said Curren."I was so humbled that first year, seeing the crowd and hearing Hudson’s name from so many people. We’re so excited to see the event grow. Last year we dropped 870 ducks and raised $10,750 for RMHC. ”
The Ronald McDonald House first became a lifeline to the Curren family when Hudson was born prematurely on July 24, 2018. Then, 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 extended stays at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, including a medically-induced coma.
During those hospital stays, Ronald McDonald House 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.
“Our community and Ronald McDonald House have always been there 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. With a myriad of medical bills, a hotel stay is not always affordable. The ability to stay close to Nationwide Children’s Hospital is reassuring. Hudson’s Duck Drop allows us to raise awareness of the importance of Ronald McDonald House and to share stories with other Shelby families with similar experiences.”
The Curren family continues to utilize the services of Ronald McDonald House as Hudson’s older brother now requires regular medical care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In total, the family has spent more than 100 nights in a Ronald McDonald House.
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.