2021 Rotary Honors Veterans

Freedom Fun Run at Fantasy of Lights Nov. 13

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 our annual salute to our United States Veterans.

Participation 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, 3311 South Old State Road, Delaware, Ohio.

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. Participants will gather indoors at The Point, where they will hear about our event and local military group beneficiaries, then be transported by bus to the Fantasy of Lights for the Freedom Fun Run.

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

Veterans beneficiaries for 2021 Freedom Fun Run

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.

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

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