LEWISTON — More than 3,000 people have registered to walk, ride and cycle in the 2013 Dempsey Challenge, scheduled for Oct. 12 and 13.

And the crowd is getting bigger.

“We had a record-breaking year last year, as far as participants and fundraising went,” spokesman Mark Turcotte said. “We’re pretty close to those numbers right now. We’re on par, as far as fundraising goes, where we were at this time last year.

In its fifth year, the challenge created by TV and movie actor Patrick Dempsey is debuting new events, new celebrity riders and the same effort to help people touched by cancer.

Last year, the challenge had 4,294 participants who raised an estimated $1.2 million. Corporate sponsors covered the event’s expenses, but all of the money raised by teams and individuals went into the the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing.

“It looks like another hugely successful event,” Turcotte said.

Dempsey, the star of TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy” is scheduled to attend several events and to cycle the 50-mile course, Turcotte said.

Among this year’s added visitors will be Indy car driver Justin Wilson and Dean Petty, a cancer survivor and chief of domestic and international affairs for USA Cycling

Among the cyclists will be husband and wife Brent and Jamie Bookwalter and Carmen Small. Also attending are Ally Stacher, Alison Tetrick and Freddie Rodriguez.

Rodriguez will launch one of the early public events, a bicycle safety clinic for children in grades three through six at Bates College’s Gray Athletic Building. Challenge leaders are hoping for at least 75 children at the event.

On Friday, the Dempsey Center, at 29 Lowell St. in Lewiston, will hold an open house from 1 to 6 p.m.

“Courage-Fest” events begin at 4 p.m. with a marketplace at the Bates Mill atrium. Farmers, chefs and artisans will sell food, wine, craft beer and cider. South Portland singer-songwriter Amy Allen, who performed during Season 2 of TV’s “The Voice,” is scheduled to perform.

At 7 p.m., the documentary “The Peloton Project” will be shown at the Franco-American Heritage Center. Admission to the atrium and the movie is free. Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub in Auburn will hold an after-party. For every pint or Twenty 2 Vodka Signature drink sold, $1 will be donated to the Dempsey Center.

Athletic events begin the next morning with a 7 a.m. opening ceremony.

Two run/walks — 5k and 10k — are scheduled for Saturday. On Sunday, five bicycle rides — 10, 25, 50, 70 and 100 miles — will take place. The events will begin and end at Simard/Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston’s downtown.

Also in the park will be a festival, including a health and wellness expo, kids’ games, concessions, a vendor fair, official merchandise, massages and live entertainment.

New to the park will be sales of gourmet foods by three traveling vans: Pinky D’s, the Wicked Good Truck and Gusto’s Italian Foods.

dhartill@sunjournal.com

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