Some, though, are pulled off through the vision and drive of one key person. The Raven Rock Ramble, instance, an annual May century ride that Cary’s David Cole, a kidney transplant recipient, started in 2002 to raise money for the UNC Kidney Center (it’s raised more than $150,000 in its 12 years). Or the Miracle Mile, held every September in downtown Raleigh to raise money to cure motor neuron diseases such as Primary Lateral Sclerosis and ALS, a k a Lou Gehrig’s disease. The remarkable Sarah Witt, a former runner who has PLS, started the Miracle Mile in 2006; it as since raised more than $450,000.

And, on Dec. 13, we have the 5th Annual Tour de Toys, which Camye Womble started to  raise money for kids who might not otherwise have toys to unwrap this holiday season. Price of admission: one new, unwrapped toy that will be given to families at The Women’s Center of Wake County.

While the goal of this ride is worthy enough, another recommendation for this ride is that it’s a ride for everyone, not just the hammerheads who can crank out 64 miles in a couple hours. There’s a 12-mile route, and if that’s too much, you have the option for a six-mile-ride as well. The rides start and finish at Natty Greene’s Brewing Company in downtown Raleigh, each has a ride leader to make sure you stay on the course, each has a sweep to make sure you don’t get left behind. The unwrapped toy admission includes two adult beverages for adults at the finish, kid-appropriate beverages for the under 21-set. You need a bike, you need a helmet, you need a cool, unwrapped toy, you need to show up around 9:30 a.m. (the ride starts at 10 a.m.). Is there a better way to spend the second Saturday morning in December?

Learn more about Tour de Toys and register, by going here.

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Sunday, Dec. 14, is the fourth running of the Tour de Toys, a unique charity ride in the world of two-wheel fundraising. Unique because it’s in chilly December, typically a slow month on the cycling calendar. Unique in that whereas the long option in a typical charity ride is 64 miles and the short 32, the hardcore at Tour de Toys will be going 12 miles, the recreational riders 6.

And unique in that the entry fee isn’t an arm and a leg, but rather a toy (of $15 or greater value). The toys will go to the Women’s Center of Wake County and be given to kids who spend the holidays at the center.

The ride was conceived by local cyclist/equestrian/adventurer Camye Womble. Camye took five earlier today to answer five questions about the ride.

GGNC: What prompted you to start the ride four years ago?
Camye: I cant really pinpoint a clear defined answer other then it just popped up in my head that it needed to happen. I’ve done several events in the past that were  bike related for the local MTB community and to be honest I just had this strong message that I needed to do this. So I did some research for a group locally and the women’s shelter popped up as the one clearly in need. One of the best parts of the event is the passing of the gifts to the shelter — they are truly grateful  for all the toys as these kids would likely get very little to nothing otherwise as donations have fallen off in the last couple of years. I recall two years ago we were unloading and a man that was on his way back from the Food mission set his food down to help us unload and thanked us for what we were doing. He was brought to tears.

Why 12 and 6 miles?
CW: I chose shorter routes so that just about anybody regardless of their “Biking Status” — or lack thereof — could feel like they could join the route and involve the entire family.

How would you describe both routes?
CW: The routes encompass the city. The 6-mile runs through some older parts of the city and goes pass the Governor’s mansion. I wanted it to be a fun sightseeing ride as well. The 6-mile is lead by CrankArm Rickshaw and they offer rides for those that cannot ride their bikes and ask for donations to go directly to the shelter. The 12-mile passes through the city toward the greenway past Meredith College and over the I-440 bridge to the N.C. Museum of Art and back into the city. I want folks to see our wonderful city and greenway system.

What kind of crowd does TdT attract? And what kind of bikes?
CW: The ride attracts all kinds of riders — some of the best riders in the area to folks that may only ride for this event. It’s an all-inclusive ride for the entire family. I’ve seen kids as young as 5 riding their bikes. The bikes range from some very high end MTB and road bikes to BMX to cruisers to vintage bikes .

What’s the coolest toy you’ve gotten?
CW: They are all cool to the kids that get them, and I’m sure they mean a lot to each and every family that receives them. The shelter sets it up so that the parents actually give the toys to their children so they all get the feeling that parents have done this for them. I’m sure its got to be rewarding for the parents as well.

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Tour de Toys
When: Saturday, Dec. 14; 12-mile ride begins at 10 a.m., 6-mile at 10:30
Where: Natty Greene’s Brewing Co., 505 West Jones St., Raleigh
Admission: One toy, of $15 or greater value
Registration: Is required, by going here.
More info here.

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Benefit events — runs, rides, walks, hikes, whatever involves movement to raise money — are a dime a dozen. Provided, that is, you’re in pretty good shape. Witness the plethora of 5Ks on the market for runners, the MS 150, or the Ultimate Hike, which I recently was involved with. For the latter, a 12-week training program was required — or very highly recommended — to help participants complete the goal of a 28.3-mile mountain hike in one day.

Not everyone has the time nor the inclination to train for a benefit event. Still, many folks like the idea of being active to help a good cause. Which is why I’m drawn to Dec. 10’s Tour de Toys in Raleigh. You have the option of doing a 12-mile bike ride on neighborhood streets in Raleigh or, if that’s too much, there’s a 6-mile option — basically the equivalent of a ride in the neighborhood with the kids. Entry fee: a new toy, valued at $15 or more, that will go to The Women’s Center of Wake County.

The ride is the unlikely brainchild of Camye Womble. “Unlikely” only because in her non-fundraising life Camye is incapable of riding just 12 miles. Camye’s thing is endurance mountain bike racing. When I asked recently whether she was doing 6 BC, a 6-hour mountain bike race in Chapel Hill, she said prefers longer events. Longer, as in the Off-Road Assault on Mount Mitchell, a 63-mile ride that climbs a total 11,000 feet, or the old 24 Hours of Snowshoe, which involved riding an 8-mile loop that gained 1,500 feet, over and over for 24 straight hours.

“I wanted it to be an ALL-inclusive ride that pretty much anybody can do,” says Camye, “older folks to parents and the kids, as well as those not in shape looking to get out and support a good cause, with the emphasis being on giving a gift to kids that probably wouldn’t get one.”

Adding to ride’s festive, laid-back nature: Ride HQ is Natty Greene’s, nattygreenes.com a local establishment where participants will be able to slake their thirst after riding (each adults rider gets two beers, with “kid-friendly beverages for the little ones”). Plus, there’s a raffle afterward with $1,500 in donated prizes.

Tour de Toys is in just its second year and as such is still an intimate gathering: Camye expects around 100 riders this year. Camye hopes to grow the ride into something bigger, though, with live music, BMX bike demonstrations and other post-ride entertainment.

The 12-mile ride starts at 10 a.m., the 6-miler at 10:30. Both rides will have a ride leader and a sweep, so no rider should get misplaced on the not-really-mean-quite-friendly-really streets of Raleigh. And, again, it’s Dec. 10 — you still have plenty of time not to train.

To register, go here.

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Got a benefit ride/race/walk/anything-requiring-some-degree-of-activity that doesn’t require training — at all? Let us know about it and we’ll do our best to let others know as well.

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