Patrick Dempsey, the well-known actor on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” said the fundraising event he founded in 2008 shows “the power of cancer as a uniting force in many ways.”

He called the fundraising success of the Dempsey Challenge, now approaching a total of $6 million, “a real testament to this community and the state.

“This year is particularly challenging. It hurts,” he said, referring to the death six months ago of his mother, a multiple-cancer survivor, for whom the Center was established. Dempsey, his sister, Mary Dempsey, who is assistant director of the Center, and another sister, Alicia, reminded participants and volunteers that “her absence reminds us why we’re all here this weekend.”

In their statement distributed at the news conference, they said, “This year’s Dempsey Challenge is difficult without our mother, but she is with us in our hearts and minds. We are reminded of her strength in all of the survivors, friends, patients and family who join us this weekend in celebrating hope.”

The Center provides free support, education and integrative medicine services to anyone impacted by cancer, regardless of where treatment is received.

Aimee Arsenault, the Dempsey Center’s manager of special events and development, led off the news conference with recognition of several major 2014 donor achievements. She said Butler Brothers, an industrial distributor in Lewiston, and their Team Mary Lou, has raised $56,221. That eclipses last year’s top team pledge total of $37,627.

Arsenault also gave special credit for individual fundraising to Katy Romano of Atlanta, Ga., for pledges amounting to $24,138. That topped Romano’s effort last year of $22,880.

David Gervais was recognized for raising more than $22,000 from 400 individual donors.

One hundred percent of funds raised by participants benefit the Dempsey Center and all of the event costs are covered by numerous sponsors, led by Amgen, a maker of medicines for serious illnesses.

Nel Bernard of Poland, a four-time melanoma survivor, was introduced at the news conference. Bernard, an accomplished artisan in stained glass, is the winner of the 2014 Amanda Dempsey Award presented by Amgen’s “Breakaway from Cancer” program. When he was no longer able to work as an entrepreneur, he began to rebuild his life by volunteering as a Reiki master at the Center.

The news conference participants included five professional bicycle racers who told of their reasons for coming to Lewiston for the event.

They are Alison Tetrick, taking part for a third year; Fred “Fast Freddie” Rodriguez, fourth year participant and an ardent supporter of the kids’ events; Ellen Noble, first year; Tim Duggan, first year; and Jackie Crowell, whose cycling career was interrupted a year ago at the age of 25 when she was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Nini Meyer told the news conference attendees about the origin and role of “Positive Tracks,” a national youth-centric nonprofit that empowers people ages 23 and younger to turn miles of physical activity into doubled dollars.

After his remarks thanking the L-A community for rallying behind the weekend event, Dempsey introduced Dennis Richardson, a childhood chum from the actor’s early years in his native town of Turner. With a dry, Down East wit, Richardson told how Dempsey had played a major role in getting him to quit a two-pack-a-day smoking habit. He joked about learning to bike as he regained lung power and lost weight, and he said he plans to ride in the weekend’s cycling runs.

Richardson said he completed his first 100-mile bike ride a couple of weeks ago.

This weekend’s Dempsey Challenge will have participants from 34 states and six countries, Arsenault said. Opening ceremonies at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston are at 7 a.m. today, followed by the 5K and 10K run/walk and a Festival in the Park; The Amgen Breakaway from Cancer Survivor Walk, led by Bernard, at 10 a.m.; and an Auburn Firefighters Local 797 Kids’ Fun Run.

Sunday’s program features the cycling events in which hundreds of cyclists will take part in rides of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 miles.

The Festival in the Park will feature a Health and Wellness Expo, a Sprit of Hope Tent, a KidZone area, concessions, vendors and a wide variety of live entertainment.

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