Mom’s fight with cancer inspired Patrick Dempsey

CEBU, Philippines -  Patrick Dempsey suffered a devastating loss recently when his mother, Amanda, 79, lost her battle with cancer, but the actor remains steadfast in his mission to help other families fight the disease.

After his mother was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in 1996, the “Grey’s Anatomy” star and his sisters founded The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing in their hometown of Lewiston, Maine. The center, which provides free cancer support, education and integrative medicine services to anyone impacted by cancer, opened its doors in 2008 and has been a beacon of the local community.

Peter Chalke, president and CEO of Central Maine Healthcare, lauded both Dempsey’s support of his mother’s fight and his commitment to the local cancer community, and spoke fondly of a man, whom most only know for his on-screen persona of Dr. McDreamy on “Grey’s Anatomy.”

The 48-year-old star has spent countless hours off-screen fundraising and raising awareness about the devastating disease. Despite his hectic shooting schedule, in 2010 he kicked off The Dempsey Challenge, a run, walk, and bike race to raise money for the Center.

“Right around the time that I started shooting ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ I became a spokesmen for the Amgen Tour of California, and the Breakaway from Cancer Initiative. Basically it is about wellness centers, so that people who are diagnosed with cancer have a place to go,” Dempsey said in an interview with Velocity.

His wife, Jillian, explained that giving back to others is what drives her husband to do more. “I think what charges and powers him is that he knows he’s adding to so many people’s lives and showing that you can do this.”