‘McDreamy’ raises over $1 million for most cancers help in Lewiston
LEWISTON, Maine — Actor Patrick Dempsey, nicknamed ‘McDreamy’ for his position on Gray’s Anatomy, returned to Lewiston this 12 months for the fifteenth annual Dempsey Problem.
The free occasion honors most cancers sufferers and their households.
Contributors ran and biked to lift funds for the Dempsey Heart, which offers help for most cancers sufferers.
This 12 months greater than 1 million {dollars} was raised. The highest fundraising group raised greater than 100,000 {dollars}.
Some volunteers right here have particular ties to this occasion.
“My father handed away 25 years in the past of lung most cancers throughout the ice storm of 98,” stated volunteer Vicky Rucker. “If these providers have been out there to him again then, it will have been one thing that might have been nice.”
Some contributors biked 65 miles for this problem, blissful to be right here for a very good trigger.
“To help the Dempsey Heart and have these assets and providers, its vital for folks,” stated race participant Dave Tucci.
And there’s no age restrict to take part: Daybreak Robitaille is 92 years previous and biked 25 miles.
“I’ve achieved all the Dempsey rides that they’ve had since 15 years in the past,” stated Robitaille. “I’ve been the oldest man all these years.”
Households affected by most cancers joined collectively for an honor stroll, a loop across the occasion.
Noelle Lambert, who made it onto season 43 of Survivor, took the stage encouraging of us to maintain pushing. She misplaced her leg at simply 17 years previous.
Patrick Dempsey then took the stage, joined by his household, speaking about his beloved mom’s battle with most cancers. She later died in 2014.
“She liked speaking with folks and serving to anyone she may with their most cancers journeys, in a nook and really quiet,” stated Mary Dempsey, Patrick’s sister. “We needed to maintain her legacy going.”
Saturday’s occasion makes of us proud to be a Mainer. Rucker is preserving her father who has since handed in thoughts as we speak.
“Although he couldn’t profit from that, I’m so glad to see folks within the state of Maine are benefiting tremendously from the providers that the Dempsey Heart offers,” stated Rucker.
