The Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League hosted their 4th annual Run the Highlands 5K and 1 Mile Family Walk on Saturday, April 26, 2008.   All proceeds from the 2008 Run the Highlands will go towards revitalizing the pond on the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center’s park property.  Our goal is to fully sponsor this endeavor, which includes dredging the area, rebuilding the dam, and installing stonework and an aerator fountain.  The pond was once the site of fishing tournaments and the spooky Haunted Trail events.  We look forward to new memories at the pond for all generations of Lake Highlands neighbors, made possible by our sponsors’ gracious donations.  This event served as a fund raising platform for the LHJWL to also benefit improvements to the park, including the future 1-mile loop trail at the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center and existing Sprayground.  The projects of the LHJWL onsite at the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center’s park will offer recreation opportunity to community members of all ages, including family groups and walkers looking for a scenic place to exercise in the Lake Highlands area.

            This year’s Run the Highlands began with a registration time full of fun entertainment led by Master of Ceremony, Doug Williams.  His energetic tone set the stage for a successful and very entertaining event.  Jazzercise Fitness Center rallied the crowd in a brisk warm-up for the 1 Mile Family Walk and 5K.  The Lake Highlands Jazz Band led a wonderful time of music during registration.  The course of the run/walk wound participants through the picturesque streets within the heart of Lake Highlands.  Afterwards, a family fun community carnival was held at LakeHighlandsNorthRecreationCenter.  Families and friends enjoyed Starbucks coffee, breads from Einstein’s Bagels, Eat the World casserole samples, Juice It Up treats, breakfast chicken biscuits from Chick-Fil-A, and activities which included a balloon artist, petting zoo, and bounce houses.

            The LHJWL would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to their 200+ sponsors and for theincredible community support which allowed Run the Highlands to achieve another successful year.  This year’s profile consisted of 866 participants of both men and women ranging from 13 to 80 in age.  Not only were our participants LH residents, but some ventured from cities near and far within Texas and a couple of bordering States.  Because of this amazing support, the LHJWL was able to raise well over $70,000 this year for their philanthropic project at the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center.

             The LHJWL would like to give great recognition to Wildcat level sponsors who are the City of Dallas Lake Highlands North Recreation Center, the Lake Highlands Women’s League, the Lake Highlands Exchange Club, the Honorable Bill and Sara Blaydes, The Lake Highlands Area Early Childhood  PTA,  Lake Highlands North neighborhood association, the Lake Highlands North Volunteers in Patrol, the Lake Highlands Estates neighborhood association, the YMCA of Lake Highlands, Viking, Hill Group, FedEx Kinko’s, Dorsey Construction Roofing Company, Minuteman Press, Mike and Jo Baggett, Alan and Joan Walne, Herb’s Paint and Body Shops, Brinker International, Viking, Virginia Cook realtors, Chick-Fil-A, Medical City Children’s Hospital, KPMG,  the Advocate, Lake Highlands North Town Center, United Healthcare, Zyrka, Paul and Kelly Gittemeier, and Walmart Neighborhood Market.