When planning their wedding, Missi Roberts and Matt Austin of Murfreesboro pledged to give back to their community.

Roberts learned the Child Advocacy Center’s annual Duck Derby is the same day as their June 11 wedding. About 10,000 adopted rubber ducks will race in the Stones River that day to raise money to help abused children heal.

“Perfect!” Roberts thought. “We can donate money to the Child Advocacy Center and have ducks (as favors).”

CAC Executive Director Sharon DeBoer said the Child Advocacy Center board, staff and volunteers are excited for Roberts and Austin on their wedding day.

“We think they are the ‘quackiest’ by supporting the Duck Derby and the child abuse victims and their families that we serve on their wedding day,” DeBoer said.

As a former Youth Services officer, Roberts knew the Child Advocacy Center in Rutherford and Cannon counties has provided services to more than 6,000 physically and sexually abused children and drug-endangered children during the past 10 years.

She now teaches fourth grade at John Colemon Elementary School in Smyrna. Austin works for Mountain State Construction Excavating Co. As a teacher, Roberts said children influence her life.

“It’s such a big part of my life helping children,” Roberts said, explaining a donation to the CAC will be an honor for her and Austin.

The Child Advocacy Center helps victims and families heal.

“What an awesome thing,” Roberts said of the CAC services. “I definitely want to encourage people to adopt a duck. Just your $5 can help so tremendously for this agent. It will help change someone’s life for the good.”

People may help abused children by adopting ducks at $5 apiece, a quack pack for $25, $50 for a Quacker’s Dozen of 12 or $100 for a Flock of Ducks with 25 adoptions, said Queen of the Quackers Kristin Demos. Ducks may be adopted at Demos’ restaurant, US Bank, FirstBank, Top of the Block, Bell Jewelers, Reeves-Sain, Mills Family Pharmacy, The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro Post and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office in Murfreesboro. Ducks may also be purchased online at www.duckrace.com/murfreesboro.

Ducks may also be adopted in Cannon County at the Child Advocacy Center at 214 W. Water St., First Bank at 101 W. Main St. and First National Bank at 801 W. Main St. in Woodbury.

Duck Derby events will kick off at noon with the Family Fun Festival where families can enjoy food, entertainment, children’s games and activities outside the Sportsman’s Club at 1231 Medical Center Parkway.

Auctioneers will sell large rubber ducks autographed by celebrities at 4:30 p.m. Ducks will hit the water for the derby at 5:23 p.m.

As an adopter, Roberts’ ducks will be entered in the race. If her duck is the first one to cross the race finish line, she will win the $5,000 grand prize sponsored by Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Cooperative. The remaining 13 prizes include vacation packages, fishing trips and gift certificates from Demos’ and Bell Jewelers.

Roberts encouraged other people to purchase adopt a duck today.

“Just $5 can help so tremendously for this agency,” Roberts said. “Help to change someone else’s life for the good.”

For more information, contact Executive Director Sharon DeBoer of the Child Advocacy Center at 867-9000 in Murfreesboro or Coordinator Amanda Burks of the Cannon County Child Advocacy Center at 563-9915 in Woodbury.