It was a gorgeous, sunny summer morning for the first of two yearly fundraisers, the "Running of the Dawgs," held by the Northern Lehigh Education Foundation on Saturday at Northern Lehigh High School's Bulldog Community Stadium.

First, a 1-mile fun run began at 8:30 a.m. Next, a 5K run/walk took off at 9 a.m. and made its way around the neighborhoods surrounding the elementary, middle and high schools before returning to the stadium for a finishing lap around the track.Participants were invited to bring their dogs along to participate and even to dress them up for a costume judging contest. And though none were dressed up, plenty of dogs were present and walked or ran in the two events.Foundation Treasurer Bill Danish, a runner himself, has organized the event since it was restarted in 2010. He said the foundation held races before that, but they had fallen off "until in 2010 we picked it back up again."He said the community volunteers of the foundation raise money for the Northern Lehigh School District to help supplement it with some of its programs. The foundation recently gave $10,000 to the school district for laptop carts so computers can easily be wheeled in and out of classrooms.While Danish says he is sure many schools are short on funds, he said, "Our school district doesn't have many businesses in the area, so (it) struggles with the funding. We're a means to raise some funds and help them out as much as we can."Funds come from a mix of donations, grants and fundraisers such as this one.Race participants received awards and goodie bags, plus enjoyed complimentary fruit and water and the music of DJs CT Productions. High School Principal Robert Vlasaty was on hand to emcee the event."It grows every year," said foundation secretary Christine Stafford, who said this year about 77 people registered, as opposed to the low 60s last year.Sharon Boyesen, of Slatington, said she and her husband, Dag, have participated in the event for several years and that in addition to supporting the foundation and the school district, they enjoy it because "it's close and it's very nicely done.""It's important to create awareness," said Bill Gorton, partner of Tall Tails Training & Boarding, of Slatington, who was there for the first year with a team of eight employees, family and extended family. "Education is getting underfunded, and it's important to help out wherever we can."Winners of the 5K were: Overall male: first-Rich Desocio, second-Joseph Chandler, third-Dag Boyesen; overall female, first-Jennifer Butz, second-Lori Krum, third-Karen Ziegenfuss; 60-plus: male John Gallagher, female Sue Williams; 50-59: male Duane Beers; 40-49: male Rich Desocio, female Lori Krum; 30-39: male Jared Weller, female Mary Kocher; 19-29: male Austin Danish, female Christina Hefele; 18 and under: male Kyle Krempasky, female Sarah Hunsicker.Sponsors of the event included A.F. Boyer Hardware & Guns, Slatington Fabricators, Blue Ride Communications, Wagner's Auto Body, Highland Animal Hospital, Neffs National Bank, Richard B. Ryon Insurance and Bechtel's Pharmacy Inc.