The St. Joseph YWCA is holding a baby derby to help raise funds for several agency programs.

“We are going to race babies to raise money for the JUMP program, Diaper Depot and Discovery Childcare,” said Jamie Noble, Baby Derby creator/organizer with the YWCA. “The babies will be divided into categories based on age and ability and so there will be one winner from each race and they’ll win prizes.”

The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 20th at the YWCA located at 304 N. 8th St from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Babies age 6 months to children age 3 will be able to participate. The cost is $15 to enter a baby in the race.  Noble said there will also be vendors, free food, face painting and balloons for anyone to attends.

“Most of our events aren’t geared around young families and so I really wanted to get the YW’s name out there and what we do for the families and so I just though ‘Hey let’s race babies!’ I’ve heard of it before so it’s not an original idea but I don’t know that it’s ever been done here,” Noble said.

The babies will take the starting line in the YWCA gym.  Noble said she hopes to get at least 70 babies signed-up.  Sign-ups can be made by CLICKING HERE or the day of the event at the door. She said there will be one winner from each bout, with the grand prize being a portrait package from Bellflower Photography.