LEWISTON — Wendy Tardif, executive director of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing, will be the guest speaker at the Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing Alumni Association’s annual meeting on Jan. 19.

Tardif will discuss the history of the Dempsey Center and provide an overview of its services. She will also talk about the Dempsey Challenge fundraising event, including opportunities available to become involved with the Dempsey Center and the annual fundraiser.

Tardif earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine in Orono. She has worked as a community health educator for more than 25 years. She is a co-founder of Healthy Androscoggin, formerly known as Tobacco-Free L/A, and played an instrumental role in the creation of the CMMC Health and Wellness Center. She is a certified tobacco treatment specialist, and has helped hundreds of former tobacco users in central Maine conquer their tobacco habit. Tardif is a commissioner for the Maine Lung Association and a faculty member of the Center for Tobacco Independence.

Tardif has been a core planning committee member of Lewiston-Auburn’s Triple Crown 5K Series, a community run/walk fundraising series that benefits nonprofit community organizations. In 2009, she spearheaded the first L-A Couch-to-5k program.

Founded in March 2008 by actor and Maine native Patrick Dempsey, the Dempsey Center provides high quality education, support and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and families. The Center embraces the whole person, body, mind and spirit, in a respectful, inclusive and healing environment. All of the center’s services are provided free of charge.

The Jan. 19 meeting is a “brown bag” luncheon and will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the CMMC College of Nursing and Health Professions, 70 Middle St. A business meeting with election of officers will take place following Tardif’s presentation. For more information, call 783-4322.