Jonesy's Toy Ride this Saturday

Hohenwald has fast become one of the major bike ride capitals in the South with three or four large bike rides every year, each one raising money for the local community. The last ride of this year comes this Saturday with Jonesy's Toy Ride. This ride has been such a success over the past few years that it is hopeful this ride could continue for many years to come.

But the first person to say "But it isn't all me" would be Rick Jones himself. There are many people behind the Jonesy's Toy Ride that make it such a success, all of them are volunteers who just come together as friends, and as motor bike fanatics. You can see in the picture the bunch that turned up at 6.30 a.m. last Saturday to man the buckets to collect money at the stop lights around town. The amount raised just that day was $3,800."

But Jones went on to say that "the name started a number of years ago and it has stuck, now I am slightly embarrassed when I see my name up there. There are many great people doing all the work and they need a whole bunch of the glory."

This Saturday morning's ride starts at 10:30 a.m. outside Hohenwald Billiards across from Rong Garden in downtown Hohenwald. Other rides have benefited local cancer victims, raising thousands and thousands of dollars that stay here in Lewis County, giving money back to the victims of cancer, giving them gas money to go for hospital visits and also to help pay medical expenses.

This ride is slightly different from the others in that all monies collected goes to buy toys and special gifts for the kids of families who don't have the need to purchase nice presents. "Money is counted at the end of the day after the ride, which also includes an auction, and a chili cookoff. It is then distributed to volunteers for them to go to local stores to purchase toys and gifts for local kids,'' said Danny Ogg, one of the main organizers of the event.

"A great ride," said Jones, "and I encourage local residents to come down to see us and meet us. Bring the kids down and see first hand the bike owners and the bikes, some worth many thousands of dollars that are the pride and joy of these volunteers who have bent over backwards to help the residents of Hohenwald and Lewis County. Come and just say thank you and Merry Christmas." And Mr. Jones, this ride needs to stay as Jonesy's Toy Ride, whatever you might think, it needs to be an annual event that says thank you.

And thanks to Jonesy and all the volunteers for all the help you give in making this ride such a success.