More than $1.5 million was raised this weekend during two major cancer awareness events in Maine.

The 16th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk drew more than 1,500 participants in Portland alone. Other walks were held in Brunswick, Kittery and Damariscotta Sunday.

Also Sunday, cyclists in the fourth annual Dempsey Challenge rode as many as 100 miles to raise funds for the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. More than 1,400 riders took part in the Dempsey Challenge, which featured various routes ranging from 10 to 100 mile rides. Thousands more participated in walking and running events on Saturday.

Actor Patrick Dempsey of “Grey’s Anatomy,” was born in Lewiston and grew up in Turner and Buckfield. The event was created following the experience of his 77-year-old mother’s battle with ovarian cancer. More than $1 million was raised, drawing more than 4,270 total participants over the weekend. That's the largest turnout in its four-year history.

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