Independence Day Vets & First Responders 5K Run/Walk
We're back at the Westerville Sports Complex for 2025!Get your 4th moving with the Westerville Rotary 5K to start the holiday!
Registration is now open for the 2025 Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day 5k!
Our honorees this year are First Responders, Active Duty Military and all Veterans.
Update: Early-bird pricing extended
Early-bird pricing now in effect is $30 per registrant for general public and $25 for First Responders, Active Military and Veterans. The early-bird pricing has been extended to run through June 4, 2025.
On June 5, the price increases $5, to $35 for general public.
Family discount
Families can take advantage of our multiple-person registration discount as well: Registrations of three people or more get a $5 discount on each registration – whether before or after the Early Bird pricing ends.
All 5K participants receive a Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day T-shirt and finisher medal.
Kids Fun Run
Again this year, we will conduct our Kids Fun Run prior to the 8 a.m. start of the 5K Walk/Run. Children 11 and under are invited to participate. The Fun Run is a 100-yard dash for children 7 and younger; and 200-yards for children 8-11.
Fun Run registration is $10, and entrants receive their own race medal. (Race shirts for Fun Run participants are available for a small additional charge. Look for the option in registration.)
2025 event schedule
7:30 a.m. Pre-race Tribute Ceremony to Veterans and First Responders
7:45 a.m. Kids Fun Run for young children (100-yard dash for 7 and under; 200-yard dash for 8-11)
8 a.m. 5K Run-Walk start
Wear your swag with pride
Start your July 4th with the Rotary 5K, then wear your race shirt or medal to the Rotary Club of Westerville’s full day of patriotic celebration in Westerville: the State Street Independence Day Parade at 10:30 a.m., the Free Concert Series & Foodtruck Festival from 5-10 p.m., and the big fireworks display at 10!
2025 Honoree Organization
Our honoree organization for the 2025 Rotary Club of Westerville Independence Day 5K is First Responders Bridge, a local organization that provides mental health support for active and retired first responders, and their significant others, who are experiencing depression, anxiety, PTS or feeling suicidal from the things they see and hear on the job every day.
This includes support for police, fire, military veterans and dispatchers. First Responders Bridge was founded by retired Columbus police officer Mick Yinger and retired Westerville police officer Mike Pavolino, after the tragic murders of two Westerville police officers on Feb. 10, 2018.
THANK YOU to our Awesome 2025 Sponsors
We couldn't stage Westerville's Independence Day without them!
DIAMOND SPONSORS
PLATINUM sponsors
GOLD sponsors
SILVER sponsors
BRONZE sponsors
Contact Us
Rotary Club of Westerville
P.O. Box 595
Westerville, OH 43086-0595
Where We Meet:
The Medallion Club
5000 Club Drive
Westerville, Ohio 43082
When:
Thursdays at noon (with Occasional off-site, evening socials)
Our recent Facebook posts
Rotary Club of Westerville
Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville is a service club of business professionals and community leaders working to improve our community and larger world. Part of Rotary International. Find out more at WestervilleRotary.com @rotary6690
Today's meeting was filled with gratitude, laughter, and well-deserved recognition! Charlie Boss, Westerville Schools Coordinator of Communications & Community Engagement, was honored as our Community Partner of the Year. We thanked outgoing board members Brad Dodrill and Eric Gibson for their three years of service, and recognized Eric as our Special Projects Superstar. The highlight of the day? Presenting the Bill Tompos Rotarian of the Year Award to Dave Read, whose passion and leadership have left a powerful mark on our club. We also presented the Rising Star Award to a Westerville South senior and heard from current and past scholarship recipients. Dave Read wrapped up the meeting with an update on I-CAN and the difference it's making for students. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make this celebration so special! @followers Rotary District 6690