A few thousand competitors are getting prepared to compete in aspecial event held in an above-ground pool later this month.

Yellow floating competitors will “fly” into Brookhaven June 30and be released via crane into a 20-foot pool placed at theBrookhaven Sports Complex during the King’s Daughters FoundationLadies League Inaugural Duck Derby.

The rubber ducks are participating in the event, which starts at7 p.m., to raise money for the pediatric unit at King’s DaughtersMedical Center.

“We’re going to use the funds to improve the pediatric unit inmany ways,” said Suzanne Britt, co-chair of the ladies league.

The ladies league, which was started last year, plans to havetwo existing rooms refurbished and redecorated, adding colorfulthemes to the walls, new equipment and pediatric-size beds. Anotherroom, used for storage space right now, will be turned into a playroom for young patients.

“It will have a computer that the kids can use for the homeworkthey may miss, and games for small children,” said Britt, addingthat electronic games will also be made available for rent.

The new pediatric treatment room, where nurses draw blood andadminister IVs, will also be completed with a dinosaur treatmentbed and themes painted on the wall to ease children’s nerves.

“We’re trying to get away from doing painful procedures in thechildren’s rooms so they will feel safe in their rooms. We wanttheir room to be a sanctuary,” said registered nurse Brenda Moak.”The new treatment room is going to help a lot.”

Talk of the upcoming improvements has the medical staff at KDMCeagerly anticipating the additions.

“We’re really excited about the changes. It’s important that wekeep up with the growing pediatric unit,” said Moak.

All of the improvements will only be possible, though, with thehelp of people in the community, added Britt.

“We hope people realize the importance of the hospital in ourcommunity, and how the hospital really needs the communitysupport,” she said.

Anyone can make donations to the ladies league effort by”adopting” rubber ducks for the upcoming Duck Derby.

Ducks can be adopted for $6 each or in groups of five ($25), 10($50) and 20 ($100). Participants not only have the chance tocontribute to the pediatric project, but will also have the chanceto win cash prizes.

After the ducks are dropped into the pool, local physicians willwade in the sea of bathtub companions and “pluck” a few ducksout.

The ducks, which are weighted so they float right side up, willbe tagged with numbers on the bottom matching numbers given tocontributors.

The grand prize will be $5,000, second prize is $2,500 and thirdprize consists of $1,000. A fourth prize of $500 and twoconsolation prizes of $250 will also be awarded.

The tax-deductible adoptions may be made at local banks,physicians’ offices and KDMC. Ducks may also be adopted June 30until 6 p.m. at the complex.

The Duck Derby will be flanked with food, games and musicbeginning at 5 p.m. and a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

“Scrubs” will be the mascot of the night’s events. He was namedduring a contest involving children from schools in Lincoln Countyand Wesson.