With sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s, Suffolk had the perfect weather for outdoor fundraisers on Saturday, and by all accounts, folks in the city took advantage of it.

More than 1,200 people took part in two big annual fundraising events, raising a total of nearly half a million in donations for the two causes.

On one side of town, more than 900 cyclists spread out along the roads of northeastern Suffolk and into Isle of Wight County, riding in support of the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure, which organizers said they expected to raise about $430,000.

Meanwhile, in downtown Suffolk, more than 350 walkers started from Constant’s Wharf and took to the streets in a loop around the downtown core to raise about $64,000 for the March of Dimes in support of that organization’s fight to end premature birth.

Both events were considered successful by their organizers, who noted in both cases that the participants were expected to have met fundraising goals.

The March for Babies continues to be a popular event many years after it was first held in Suffolk, and folks have a high level of respect for the organization’s mission. The Tour de Cure is newer, having celebrated its third year in Suffolk this weekend, but it’s clear that both folks in Suffolk and in the surrounding area consider it worthy of their support.

In the case of both events, Suffolk officials have done a great job of providing the support needed to ensure success. And the people of Suffolk have further distinguished the city with their generous donations of time and money. But then there’s nothing surprising about that.