ALTON - Community members have the chance to win big while fundraising for a new ambulance.
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The 17th annual Duck Pluckers, Deer Skinners & Fish Hookers Ball on Sept. 12, 2026, is sold out, but you can still help the cause and join the fun by purchasing a raffle ticket. Raffle items include a Tory Burch handbag, a bourbon collection, a wheelbarrow of booze, fresh meat, and a helicopter hog hunting trip. Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation Development Manager Shannon Fraley noted that all ticket purchases go toward a good cause.
“Duck Puckers is our signature event. It’s where we raise the most money each year to keep quality healthcare here in the Riverbend,” Fraley said. “Unfortunately, we all will encounter the need for an ambulance and emergency medical services at some point in our life, whether it be us or a family member. We want to just make sure that those rigs are up to snuff and have everything that they need on them. We feel like that’s an important need that we can help support in our community.”
Fraley noted that Alton Memorial Hospital ambulances serve Madison, Macoupin and Jersey Counties. Each ambulance can accumulate over 60,000 miles in just one year. Because of this, they must be replaced often so the ambulances remain “reliable.”
Additionally, each ambulance carries a lot of equipment. This ensures patients are receiving fast, life-saving care. For example, a patient experiencing a cardiac event can receive an EKG while in the ambulance. By the time they arrive in the emergency room, the doctor knows their symptoms and can diagnose right away.
The Duck Pluckers event and raffle raise money to buy a new ambulance every year. Last year, they raised $250,000, which was “a big chunk” of the cost and helped the foundation’s “bottom line,” Fraley noted. They are currently halfway to their goal of $200,000 for 2026.
Fraley hopes the raffle gives them the final push they need. Tickets for each item cost $20. You must be 21 or older to win and present a valid state ID to collect your prize. You need not be present to win.
Tickets for the helicopter hog hunt cost $100 and only 150 tickets will be sold. The hog hunt is valued at $6,000 and includes lodging in Texas, three meals a day, and a “once-in-a-lifetime” hunting expedition.
Fraley noted that last year’s winner was a husband and wife duo who enjoyed the trip. Even though the wife is not a hunter, she still found it to be “amazing” and “had so much fun.” Fraley believes anyone who wins the hunting trip will have a great time, but she’s equally excited about the other prizes, all of which are high-value.
She expressed her appreciation for the donors who made it possible for them to raffle off these items. She is equally grateful for the Duck Pluckers attendees and those who buy raffle tickets. It’s because of these donations that the Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation can support Alton Memorial Hospital and their work in the community.
“We have some amazing community businesses and community members who support us each and every year,” Fraley added. “We are just always in awe of how much our community steps up and helps us with this event. We couldn’t be more thankful to live in this community and have all these folks who support us, and then we in turn can support them with the quality healthcare for emergency medical services and other services here at Alton Memorial.”
To learn more about the Duck Pluckers, Deer Skinners & Fish Hookers Ball, visit the official website. To view the raffle prizes and purchase your tickets, click here.
Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation hosts several events and fundraisers every year to assist patients and community members. For more information about their work, including how to give or receive assistance, visit their official website.
This featured article is sponsored by the Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
