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Rain doesn’t dampen charity cardboard boat race in Aurora

Participants in the Fox Valley United Way’s What Floats Your Cardboard Boat Race knew they’d get wet Saturday when their handmade crafts began to sink.

So the day’s rainy weather didn’t cancel the event, which kicks off the yearly fundraising campaign for the United Way.

Boaters raced around Mastodon Lake in Aurora’s Phillips Park competing to be the best human-powered or mechanical boat, and vying for other awards such as the new “Team Spirit” award or the classic honor for “Most Spectacular Sinking.”

Teams from United Way donors such as Caterpillar Inc. joined in the race, along with teams from organizations that receive United Way funding such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Kane and Kendall Counties.

  Chloe Baird, Yaneth Falcon, Samantha Eliceche and Penny Falcon, all of Aurora, fall into the water as their cardboard boat sinks Saturday at Mastodon Lake inside Aurora’s Phillips Park. The Fox Valley United Way’s ninth annual What Floats Your Cardboard Boat Race offers an award for “Most Spectacular Sinking” each year and a “Team Spirit” award was added this year. PAUL MICHNA/Pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Kim Carew of Aurora hides from the rain Saturday as she watches the ninth annual Fox Valley United Way What Floats Your Cardboard Boat Race on Mastodon Lake in Aurora’s Phillips Park. PAUL MICHNA/Pmichna@dailyherald.com