LEWISTON - Patrick Dempsey's mother, Amanda, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 11 years ago. She beat the disease, only to be diagnosed again. She beat it a second time. The ovarian cancer still came back.

"I learned how important it is to have a sister working in a hospital," Dempsey said, standing in a brightly lit wing of Central Maine Medical Center, the hospital where he was born and where his mother received treatment all three times.

On Monday, CMMC and the "Grey's Anatomy" actor announced a new cancer center that bears his name. The man who plays Derek Shepherd, or Dr. McDreamy to some fans, is giving The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing $250,000 to kick off its fundraising.

Faced with a scary situation like cancer, not everyone has someone on the inside like he did, Dempsey said. "We want (everyone) to have that opportunity, so when you come in, you do have a sister or somebody there to protect you and help you navigate the waves of information. Hopefully we can help out there."

While he spoke, Dempsey's mother, now in remission, sat a few feet away, grinning but shy with all the media attention.

"She's doing great, she loves being in public," Dempsey teased. "You want to do a speech, Mom, or are you OK?"

The center's Web site went live Monday. Its doors open on March 31 at 10 High St., in a space that used to be occupied by a urology office, now under renovation.

Kerry Irish, the center's program director, said a new outreach oncology social worker will spend three to four days a week on the road, between Rumford and Bridgton hospitals, and at least one day on-site in Lewiston.

"We've really needed a caregivers' support group and just haven't had the staff," Irish said. Now they do. That group has its first meeting March 31.

The center will also offer financial counseling for cancer patients, a toll-free help line and services like acupuncture and massage therapy on a sliding fee scale, determined by income.

Some families dealing with cancer "can't go out and pay $60 for a massage," Irish said.

Mary Dempsey, Patrick's sister, is the new center coordinator. Patrick approached the hospital with the idea for teaming up about a year ago, through Mary.

"We're just so pleased to have him remember his roots, remember the state of Maine, remember this community," said Peter Chalke, chief executive officer of Central Maine Medical Center.

"Patrick really wants to use this program as a model for others across the country that he's willing to support. We have the team here to put it together. We're very appreciative that he's identified us to be the lead group in this."

Dempsey said he wants community feedback to make sure the program gives the information and services people here need.

"Hopefully going through this you have some dignity, some support, a warm environment," he said.

Despite all his experience in front of cameras, Dempsey admitted to being nervous at the start of the press event. With good humor he handled the rounds of applause and introductions to people who wanted to meet a television star. Police were stationed at the hospital's elevators for crowd control just in case word of his appearance leaked out.

He's agreed to do public service announcements for the program around cancer prevention and detection.

"Patrick has an idea a minute - he's sometimes a little hard to keep up with," Chalke. said "He's got a lot of things he would like to see this center involved with, so we'll try and keep up with him."

Jean Libby, a volunteer at CMMC, said she hoped to bring a human touch to the new center's professional advisory committee, "having been living with cancer for a while and planning to live a lot longer with cancer."

"We're so grateful to Patrick for his sponsorship and everything that he's doing for us," Libby said.

• CLIMB: Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery

A six-week course using conversation and art to express feelings, aimed at children age 6-11 whose parent or grandparent has cancer.

When: Tuesdays, April 1 to May 6, 6-7:30 p.m.

• Yoga for Life

Learn gentle movements to ease discomfort and stress, aimed at cancer patients and caregivers.

When: Thursdays, starting April 3, 2-3 p.m.

• Caring Connections: Support for People Living with Advanced Cancer

Support group run by a licensed clinical oncology social worker.

When: Mondays, starting March 31, 10-11:30 a.m.

• When Someone You Love Has Cancer: Support for Family & Caregivers

Support and education, group run by a licensed clinical oncology social worker.

When: Mondays, March 31, 6-7:30 p.m.

FMI: 795-8250 or 1-877-DEMPCTR