Raven Rock Ramble is a century (100-mile) bicycle ride which explores the four-county area (Wake, Harnett, Lee, and Chatham) around Raven Rock State Park in North Carolina. Proceeds from the event go to benefit the UNC Kidney Center for direct patient services. Since its start in 2002, the Raven Rock Ramble has raised over $74,800 toward kidney health and awareness.
The 9th Raven Rock Ramble was held on May 2, 2010. This event has taken place since 2002 and has become a favorite of many area cyclists. David Cole is the event director. The following is a quote from the event website from David (who is an avid and accomplished cyclist): “I'm directing this ride because I love cycling and because I'm also a kidney transplant recipient, which allows me to enjoy cycling once again. I've been looking for an opportunity to both raise awareness on the importance of organ donation - something most folks don't care about until they have an urgent need in their family - and also raise funds for the UNC Kidney Center.
The event was an early sell out with over 500 cyclists and raised over $16,000 for the UNC Kidney Center. It was a warm day, but the aid stations were manned by smiling, helpful volunteers and stocked with plenty of fluids and snacks.
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Happy cyclists getting ready to roll! |
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From Left to Right: Mary Hall, David Cole, Transplant Nurse Clara Neyhart , and UNCKC Director Dr. Ronald Falk during the donation celebration. |
Mark your calendars now for next year’s Raven Rock Ramble which will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2011.
I started cycling in earnest 1987, shortly after a volleyball-induced knee injury took me out of running. I started riding in local group rides and centuries and developed decent strength and speed over time, such that by 1997 I set a new personal record in the Tour de Moore, finishing the 102.4 miles in under 4:30. Shortly thereafter a routine physical exam detected red blood cells and protein in my urine. One test led to another, and a kidney biopsy confirmed that I had a condition known as IgA Nephropathy. From there began a slow physical decline, with the most immediate symptom being leg cramps. By the summer of 2000 it was clear that I would be needing a transplant, and by November 2000 I was sufficiently anemic that I got a prescription for EPO.
My sister Laura agreed to be my donor, and we underwent surgery on March 7, 2001, just before I otherwise would have had to have started dialysis. I had some of the ups and downs associated with transplants (rejection, infection, etc), but by Memorial Day weekend I was back on my bike and managed an 8-mile ride.
I never expected I'd recover my speed and conditioning so quickly. I was riding metric centuries by July and full centuries by September, and without the first quiver of leg cramps. I began to remember why I enjoyed cycling so much, and would ride for the simple joy of feeling my body move and the bike respond. God, it's great!
The average transplant lasts only 10 years. I'm hoping for more, but I realize my time to enjoy cycling may be limited. My response is to make the most of it, ride when I can, and savor every moment. I encourage, indeed urge, you to do the same.
-DLC