• • The Story Behind the Pink Duck Race
    By Kris Schoeters, Founder & Creator
    
    Before the world paused, my life moved at the rhythm of roaring crowds and stadium anthems. As a DJ/MC and Entertainment Manager for international sports events with audiences of 5,000 to 20,000 fans, I lived for the energy of the crowd. But when COVID‑19 hit, my work was among the first to disappear — and the last to return.
    
    Like many, I initially welcomed the pause. I enjoyed the slower pace, went for long walks, started cycling more, and even built a gym in my garage to stay active. Life was peaceful — for a while. But as the pandemic stretched on, I felt the need for something more: a new challenge, a way to use my experience and creativity for something meaningful.
    
    With over 30 years in global entertainment, I decided to turn my skills toward a purpose-driven project. That moment came when I discovered that 1 in 8 women will be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime — a staggering statistic. And breast cancer was already close to home: both my wife’s sister and her mother were battling it. The cause had become personal — and urgent.
    
    Through my network, I connected with someone already involved in breast cancer foundations across Europe, which led me to Think Pink Europe, the umbrella organization that unites and supports local breast cancer initiatives in over 25 countries. From there, the idea began to take shape.
    
    I wanted something fun, familiar, and unifying — a light-hearted symbol with serious intent. The rubber duck came to mind. It’s timeless and universally loved… but what if we made it pink? Pink embodies hope, strength, and solidarity in the fight against breast cancer. And thus, the Pink Duck was born.
    
    Rather than selling physical ducks, which felt expensive and unsustainable, the concept evolved into online adoption. Individuals, companies, and organizations could make a small contribution — and every duck adopted would support breast cancer awareness, research, and patient care.
    
    We ordered 20,000 individually numbered Pink Ducks with our logo — and the concept was simple:

• Adopt a Pink Duck online

• Receive your race number by email

• Watch the race live or online & cheer your duck

• The winner receives a golden duck prize!
  
  Under COVID restrictions, our first Pink Duck Race had to stay under the radar — held in Ledegem, Belgium, with only the mayor and a few neighbours informed. But through months of online promotion, the event was a major success. The positive reactions were overwhelming — and exactly the motivation needed to keep going.
  
  Next came Diest, then the big leap to Antwerp. We’ve now held three sold-out events there — each with 20,000 adoptions.
  
  I’m also honoured to share that Bart De Wever, serving as Prime Minister of Belgium since 2024, has been a strong supporter of the Pink Duck Race. When the event first launched in Antwerp (where he formerly served as Mayor), he embraced the project with enthusiasm — and continues to support us. His ongoing endorsement lends credibility and visibility, both in Belgium and beyond.
  
  Since the 2023 edition in Antwerp, we’ve also welcomed the support of Pink Duck Race Ambassador Sven Van Assche. Ambassadors play a vital role by bridging the gap between our cause and the business community. As local representatives, they connect the Pink Duck Race with companies, organizations, and sponsors eager to make a meaningful impact.
  
  The concept continued to evolve. We added the option to buy vouchers, making it easier for companies and individuals to support the cause in a flexible way. We also introduced a new adoption option, allowing people to adopt Pink Ducks for themselves or gift them to someone special. And in 2025, we went international — debuting in Tenerife, with a UK edition in Cambridge scheduled for later this year.
  
  Now, step by step, we’re building an ever‑growing global movement — one Pink Duck at a time.
  
  In the fight against breast cancer, our concept revolves around two key goals:
• First, realizing campaigns by funding critical initiatives through the adoption of Pink Ducks to support breast cancer research and patient care;

Second, creating awareness about the importance of early diagnosis, as swift action can save lives.

Since breast cancer is a global challenge, our ambition is clear: to organize Pink Duck Races all over the world — on every continent, in every city.

And finally — none of this would be possible without the amazing people behind the scenes. I want to thank everyone who is helping make the Pink Duck Race such a success. First and foremost, my wife Mirjana Maric, who plays a crucial role in managing our social media, website, and communications. Her dedication keeps our message moving and our community growing.

I also want to thank the rest of Team Pink Duck Race, who I’ll proudly introduce soon. They will play a key role in helping me grow this concept even further — always in close cooperation with the local breast cancer organizations we work alongside in every city.Together, we’re making a difference — and we’re only just getting started.