Rotary Honors Vets Freedom Fun Run Nov. 13 at Fantasy of Lights

Cool changes in store for event’s 11th year

The Rotary Club of Westerville’s annual tribute to Veterans will run in a new direction this year.

In our 11th year of staging a November event to honor our Veterans, the 2021 Rotary Honors Veterans Freedom Fun Run will take place Saturday evening, Nov. 13.

The Rotary is teaming with Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights at Alum Creek State Park and The Point at Otterbein University to create a fabulous new experience for participants in the Freedom Fun Run, for our annual salute to our United States Veterans.

Participation in the Freedom Fun Run will be limited to the first 300 people to register. Registrants will receive an event T-shirt, a custom Challenge Medal commemorating the 2021 run, and coupons and other gifts from our sponsors.

The Freedom Fun Run will take place through the 3-mile Fantasy of Lights outdoor light show at Alum Creek State Park campgrounds between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13. Set up by the Bando organization, the Fantasy of Lights has taken place each holiday season since 1999 at the Alum Creek State Park campgrounds.

Normally the show is only open to motorists, but through the Westerville Rotary’s partnership with Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights, participants in the Freedom Fun Run will be allowed to run or walk the 3-mile paved course through the show. Participants MUST stay on the marked, paved course.

Through Rotary’s partnership with Otterbein, staging for the race will take place in Westerville at The Point at Otterbein, 60 Collegeview Road. Freedom Fun Run participants will gather indoors at The Point, where they can learn about our event and local military group beneficiaries, then board buses for transportation to the Fantasy of Lights for the run.

After enjoying the Freedom Fun Run course, they will be transported back to The Point, where hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

Registration includes transportation from The Point to and from the Freedom Fun Run, event T-short and Challenge Medal, coupons/gifts from our sponsors, and hot chocolate and cookie after the event, back at The Point. Cost is $50, with a $5 Early Bird Discount available through Nov. 13. Register at this link.

Veterans beneficiaries for 2021

The Rotary Honors Veterans Freedom Fun Run is staged by the Westerville Rotary Foundation, a registered 501c3 charitable organization. A portion of funds raised will remain with the Foundation, to help fund our college scholarship program for Westerville high school graduates. The majority will be donated to local veterans’ organizations.

Our local veterans’ beneficiary groups for the 2021 Freedom Fun Run will be:

• Young-Budd Post 171 of the American Legion
• Ellis E. Woodrow Memorial Post 7883 the Veterans of Foreign Wars
• USO Ohio
• SEALKIDS
• Buckeye Military Moms, Chapter 9 of the Blue Star Mothers of America

Our annual tribute to United States veterans is staged each year near Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11. Previous Rotary Honors Veterans events have been traditional 5K Run/Walks staged in the morning.

Thank you to our sponsors

MANY THANKS to our major sponsors, without whom this event to honor our Veterans could not take place:

• AEP Ohio
• Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights
• Edward Jones/Tim Bullock CFP
• OhioHealth
• The Point at Otterbein University
• 104.9 FM The River

Additional sponsors

• Lake Shore Cryotronics
• Nichols + Company Certified Public Accountants
• North Star Dental
• Rosati Windows
• Roush Hardware

Please join us for this unique event to honor our Veterans just after the 2021 Veterans Day holiday!