Patrick Dempsey, center, poses for a photo Saturday morning with his family prior to the start of the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. From left are one of Dempsey’s twin sons, wife Jillian Fink, Dempsey, sisters Alicia Hatten and Mary Dempsey. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Read complete coverage of the Dempsey Challenge

“American Idol” star Julia Gagnon sings the national anthem Saturday morning at the start of the 16th annual Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Cheri Dvorchak of Chicago is at right interpreting the song in American Sign Language. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

“American Idol” star Julia Gagnon poses for a photo with Patrick Dempsey during Saturday’s Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Don Robitaille of Lewiston, foreground, reacts Saturday morning after being recognized by Patrick Dempsey, left, prior to the start of the 25-mile ride at Saturday’s Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Behind Robitaille is Mark Consuelos of the “LIVE with Kelly and Mark” show on CBS. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Riders take off Saturday morning at the start of the 50-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Riders take off Saturday morning at the start of the 65-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Fred Eliot, center, of Portland takes off Saturday morning at the start of the 50-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Jennifer Rankin, center, fastens a poster on the back of her mother, Sandy Look, as her daughter Haley Brown, left, does the same to her Saturday morning in Simard-Payne Memorial Park prior to the start of the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Look, a cancer survivor, came from Columbia Falls to honor her husband who lost his battle with cancer last year. Rankin and Brown are from Bucksport. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Riders take off Saturday morning at the start of the 50-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey welcomes the crowd Saturday morning at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston at the start of the 16th annual Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Riders take off Saturday morning at the start of the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Rhonda Doyle, left, and Kristen Beahm cheer on riders Saturday morning before taking off for one of the bike rides during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Scout Collet sits Saturday on the shoulders of his mother, Hollister, as he cheers on his father and grandmother at the start of the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Riders take off Saturday at the start of the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey, center, family and friends take off Saturday for the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey, family and friends pose for a photo Saturday before starting the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey, family and friends pose for a photo Saturday before starting the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Runners jog past the start line Saturday during the Dempsey Challenge duathlon in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Riders take off Saturday morning at the start of the 50-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Some of the several hundred people participating in the Survivors Walk Saturday afternoon begin to circle Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey welcomes the crowd Saturday morning at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston at the start of the 16th annual Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Some of the several hundred people participating in the Survivors Walk on Saturday afternoon begin to circle Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey, middle left, leads the Survivor Walk on Saturday afternoon during the Dempsey Challenge at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Everywhere around Simard-Payne Memorial Park on Saturday were tributes to those who won, lost or are currently battling cancer during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Shannon Adams of Georgetown signs a memory wall Saturday afternoon during the Dempsey Challenge at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston. She rode the 50-mile ride in honor of her parents who both lost their battle with cancer. “It is a great annual event where I can ride and think back to all the great memories we had.” she said. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

People begin to crowd around the stage Saturday afternoon prior to the awards ceremony during the Dempsey Challenge at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Kathy Thomas, left, a three-time cancer survivor, gives a hug to Nicky Murphy after signing a memory wall Saturday afternoon during the Dempsey Challenge at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston. The two came from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where Murphy is part of Thomas’ medical team. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Derek Slayton, right, of Queensbury, New York, and Don Oakes of Scarborough peddle across the John T. Jenkins Memorial Bridge on Saturday afternoon after completing a 65-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge. Oakes has participated in all 16 years of the event, starting when his wife was battling cancer. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey welcomes the crowd Saturday morning at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston at the start of the 16th annual Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Riders take off Saturday morning at the start of the 65-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

“American Idol” star Julia Gagnon sings the national anthem Saturday morning at the start of the 16th annual Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Cheri Dvorchak of Chicago is at right interpreting the song in American Sign Language. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Dozens of people peddle Saturday morning inside a tent at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during a Jibe Cycling Studio Spinathon to raise money for the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Dozens of people peddle Saturday morning inside a tent at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during a Jibe Cycling Studio Spinathon to raise money for the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Dozens of people peddle Saturday morning inside a tent at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during a Jibe Cycling Studio Spinathon to raise money for the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Jennifer Rankin, center, fastens a poster on the back of her mother, Sandy Look, as her daughter, Haley Brown, left, does the same to her Saturday morning in Simard-Payne Memorial Park prior to the start of the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Look, a cancer survivor, came from Columbia Falls to honor her husband who lost his battle with cancer last year. Rankin and Brown are from Bucksport. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Patrick Dempsey, left, talks with U.S. Sen. Angus King at the starting line Saturday morning prior to the start of the 25-mile ride during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Simard-Payne Memorial Park is filled Saturday afternoon during the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

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