Cardboard boating a hit for United Way at Aurora's Phillips Park

Phillips Park in a Aurora has a zoo where people can see eagles, wolves, otters, llamas and other animals.

But not too many people would expect to see humans dressed as monkeys paddling across a lake in a cardboard boat.

That was the case Saturday as the Fox Valley United Way held its sixth annual "What Floats Your Cardboard Boat" race.

Penny Falcon of Aurora, who's participated in several races, dressed as a monkey with four others and paddled across Mastodon Lake.

"They wanted to have jungle characters. From there we went with (the book theme) 'Five Little Monkeys,'" she said. "It's very infectious. Once you've done it, you want to keep doing it year after year."

Added Gandi Falcon, Penny's stepson: "Half of the fun is just building the boat."

He dressed as an airline pilot and was the lead paddler for a large boat in the form of a US Airways jet. It was named "Sully" honor of pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who safely crash landed a jet in the Hudson River in January. All 155 passengers lived.

Deborah Collins, Fox Valley United Way director of administration, said the race is held each August to build awareness for the group's annual campaign.

"It brings together our agencies, our supporters and our recipients," she said, noting that groups like Hesed House in Aurora and Caterpillar participated. "We had a bigger turn out than we ever had."

Overall, 23 boats were scheduled to race, but 22 showed up.

The Most Spectacular sinking was "Breaking Free." The Judge's Choice Award went to Magnum Insurance, which sponsored "Sully: Miracle on the Hudson." Aurora Boy Scout Troop 53 won the Last Chance Race. The Best in Race award went to "Kukla Crew." And Juany Garza, a 2nd Ward Aurora alderman, took the Best in Race award for mechanical powered boats.

For mor information about the campaign or next year's race, visit uwfoxvalley.org or call (630) 896-4636.