Patrick Dempsey Raises $1 Million For Cancer Charity

Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey raised more than $1 million dollars this weekend by hosting a charity bike race.

Dempsey returned to his native Maine to take part in the Dempsey Challenge, which is  a road race and bike ride reaching up to 100 miles, with proceeds benefiting  the Central Maine Medical Center, where the actor’s mother underwent three courses of cancer treatment.

Dempsey set up the  Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at the hospital,  and joined 4,000 other participants for the race this past weekend, even taking time to sign autographs for his fans.

One of the race participants, Cynthia Martell, told reporters at the race, “I was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and I went to Central Maine Medical Center for my care, so I am grateful to Patrick Dempsey. I am here today because of him.”