The annual Heritage Valley 5k-10K Race, Fitness Walk, Fun Run and Health Fair was a tremendous success. The number of entrants doubled in size from last year to just over 200 entrants. The race is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers with partners Up for Education and the Soroptimist Club. Runners & walkers of all ages enjoyed great weather. Runners from out of town enjoyed our beautiful scenery and discovered there is more to Fillmore than Hwy 126. After the race the participants, family members and friends enjoyed the sunshine on the lawn of FUSD administration waiting for final results. Many visited the vendors of the health fair. Donated prizes were raffled off to participants.

Overall female winner of the 5K was Tefany Gonzalez in 20:42 and overall male winner was Adrian Mejia in 16:30. Overall female winner of the 10K was Maria Villalobos in 47:37 and overall male winner was Kevin McSweeney in 38:33.

Eight teams participated for the opportunity to win funds for their favorite charity. The first place team was the Ninja Mentors. A $150 donation will be made to Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Ventura County. They also won an additional $50 for Big Brothers & Big Sisters because they had the most team members. The second place team was TeamX. A $100 donation will be made on their behalf to Full Circle Learning Center in Piru.

Fun Run entrants participated in a 1 mile run around Sespe School and FUSD administration building. They all wore #1 on their running bibs and they received a blue ribbon at the awards ceremony.

The Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers would like to thank major sponsors: Fillmore Piru Citrus; Valley Care IPA; Fillmore Family Medical Group; Limoneira; Harrison Industries; Santa Barbara Bank & Trust; Ag Land Services; Saticoy Lemon Association; Aetna; Clinicas Del Camino Real; Edward Jones; Aguirre Financial; Bennett’s Honey Farm; Fillmore Search & Rescue. Thank you also to our Phantom runners and in-kind donors: HANDSON Consultations; Dick & Martha Richardson, Central Station Bar & Grill, Farmers Insurance, Cookie Lee Jewelry, Diamond Realty, Live Well International, Jan Marholin of Boys & Girls Club, Scott & Jan Lee, SketchPad Publications, Krazy Jumps (tables, chairs, jumper), Jan Kadnofi (Clif bars), Attraction Spa (massage gift cert.), The Water Store (water & ice), Norma Mercado (massage gift cert.), employees of Santa Clara Valley Bank (bottled water), Subway (sandwich platters), Norma Sandford (lemon meringue pies), DJ Rustee (sound system & DJ), Inside Track (2 shoe certificates), Elkins Ranch Golf Course (2 golf certificates), and Fillmore Piru Citrus for oranges & bags of oranges for winners). Thank you to all the volunteers: Amparo Magana, Oralia Herrera, Norma & Noe Villa & family, Laurie Hernandez, Daisy Palma, Ken Smedley, Alex Ortiz, Epi Torres, Joe Martinez, Kim Tafoya (and helpers); Rafael Laureano; Sheriff’s Cadets and Fillmore Search & Rescue, FHS swimmers – Savannah Bullard, Giovani Arana, Grace Reilley, Erika Barrozo, Faviola Palmerin, Dede Aguilar, Brisa Romero, Martin Ceja, Vanessa Villa and Marissa Padilla. (Our apology to anyone we missed!).

Funds raised from this event go to school fitness programs & equipment and Rotary community projects like FHS & Sierra H.S. scholarships, dictionaries to all third graders, RYLA (youth leadership camp), Car Seat project, public access gate at FHS track, Condor Cross Country, Grad Nite Live, AYSO, Cub Scout Pack 3400 – just to name a few.