Bobby’s Ducks: Spreading Hope and Smiles, One Duck at a Time
When Katie Courtney turned 30 this July, she expected heartache — another birthday without her husband, Bobby. Instead, she found joy, community, and a reason to keep going.
On July 26, 2025 — the day of Katie’s 30th birthday — the Wally Armour Jeep Jam in Alliance, Ohio roared to life. The event, hosted by Wally Armour and the Buckeye Freedom Jeep Club, was full of music, food, and community. Picture it: Jeeps crawling over chained-together cars like a hometown monster truck rally — laughter and engines filling the summer air.
But behind the fun was a deeper purpose. The Buckeye Freedom Jeep Club — which Bobby helped found — raised funds in his memory for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF). This year’s Jeep Jam raised $417 in Bobby’s honor. Two raffle baskets — one donated by The Quack Shack and another by Cindy Boyce — sent all proceeds to the cause. Wally Armour’s team and the Jeep Club even donated the full 50/50 raffle to CCF. Despite the rain, about 150 people came out — proof that Bobby’s light still draws people together.
“I wasn’t aware of who they were doing the 50/50 or the raffle baskets for until a couple of days before. The fact that not only friends but even those who may not have known Bobby personally continue to do thoughtful things in his memory — and wage the war against cholangiocarcinoma — is indescribable to me.”
The Mission Rolls On: Bobby’s Ducks
When Bobby passed from cholangiocarcinoma in October 2023, Katie made him a promise: that she’d take care of everyone, that no one would ever forget his name, and that she’d keep fighting for others battling this rare and deadly cancer.
From that promise came Bobby’s Ducks — a cheerful, grassroots campaign that turns Jeep culture’s tradition of “ducking” into a symbol of awareness and hope.
Each duck carries Bobby’s name and a message of resilience. Ducks are $3 and $2 goes directly to CCF to fund research and support families facing cholangiocarcinoma. The rest helps Katie with new ducks, t-shirts, and signs for events.
At recent events like the Ravenna Balloon A-Fair in September, Bobby and Katie’s son Asher even joined in — selling $119 worth of ducks (with more to come once bumper stickers, bracelets, and shirts are tallied). Katie affectionately calls him “the sweetest little salesman,” carrying his dad’s legacy forward with every smile.
Riding in Remembrance
The Jeep family’s love doesn’t stop there. On October 18, the Buckeye Freedom Jeep Club will hold a memorial ride for Bobby and four other fallen members — another opportunity to sell ducks, raise funds, and celebrate lives that continue to inspire.
“Thank you ALL for giving me a reason to smile today, a reason to love and do what I do. A reason to keep on, keeping on. Before Bobby passed away, I promised him I’d take care of everyone. I promised no one would EVER forget about him, and I’d never stop saying his name.”
Through the laughter at Jeep events, the ducks shared on dashboards, and the funds raised for CCF, Bobby’s story lives on.
You can support Katie and Asher and spread hope one green duck at a time by purchasing one of Bobby’s Ducks on the Quack Shack’s website. For more information about Bobby’s Ducks and to follow Katie and Asher’s jeep adventures, visit the Bobby’s Ducks Facebook page.
