Thank you for visiting my personal fundraising page for this year's Dempsey Challenge!

I'd like to dedicate my participation in my first ever Dempsey Challenge to a friend whom cancer took far too soon. Debbie Kelley was a woman I worked with at New England Rehab Hospital in Portalnd. She was a strong woman. She didn't take crap from anyone...including cancer. Debbie fought long. Debbie fought hard. Harder than I ever could have imagined.

I once confided to her that I'd signed up for a triathlon, but was absolutely terrified of the swim portion, having never done any open-water swimming before. She didn't hesitate. She offered to help me through the process. Debbie met me at the beach and coached me until I felt confident enough to meet that challenge head-on.

Now as I consider the miles ahead of me, and the hills that I'll need to climb, I can feel her cheering me on, and kicking me in the butt a bit too. The Dempsey Center helped to support Debbie as she fought. I'm asking you to support the Dempsey Center so that no one has to go on that journey alone.

The Dempsey Challenge is the premiere fundraising event for the Dempsey Center, a nonprofit founded by actor Patrick Dempsey. The Dempsey Center makes life better for people impacted by cancer by easing the side effects of cancer by improving their physical, emotional, social, familial, and functional well-being at any point in their cancer journey--all at no cost.

With a donation made to my page, you can help support thousands of cancer patients, survivors, care partners, and their loved ones. Gifts of any amount will provide no-cost support for years to come.

"You can do hard things." -Debbie Kelley

Thank you for your support!

Gary