For 80 years, the Rotary Club of Highlands has quietly transformed the community – one project, one dollar, one helping hand at a time.
On Saturday, August 16, that legacy of service steps into the spotlight with its sponsorship of The Twilight 5K Race, launching at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
Founders Park, with its open green space and nods to Highlands’ past, couldn’t be a more fitting backdrop.
“It’s where Highlands comes together, and it’s filled with markers of our history,” says Rotary Club president Randy Foster. “It felt like the perfect place to invite past presidents, longtime members, and the entire community. We want this event to reflect that spirit.”
Foster knows that spirit well.
A Rotarian since 1991, he joined the Highlands club after making the move here full time five years ago. When asked to serve as president, he saw an opportunity to honor the club’s legacy in a big way.
The race starts at 6:00 P.M. at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. The 5K course is undulating, beginners or walkers will find it friendly, yet the faster runners will be challenged. Race Day registration and check-in will start at 4:00 P.M. Early packet pickup is slated for 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. Friday, August 15, at Highlands Recreation Park.
In commemoration of its 80th year anniversary, the Rotary Club of Highlands will honor those runners 80 and over with a special prize. Highlands Rotary will also invite any former Rotarians to join the celebration, with recognition of past presidents and special guests.
The ABC Band will perform at the event starting at 7:30 P.M.
For more information and to register, visit runsignup.com/highlandstwilight5k.
Last fall’s Highlands Twilight 5K raised nearly $30,000 for a new playground at the community recreation center. In all, the event has raised more than $250k for children focused charities in Highlands.
Recent Highlands Rotary golf tournaments contributed $25,000 toward renovating the Community Building kitchen.
The annual Fourth of July hot dog roast and Duck Derby continue to provide crucial support for local charities. The club’s emergency response efforts recently delivered 100 heaters to western North Carolina communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
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