“It’s our commitment to make life better for people who have been impacted by cancer,” says Patrick Dempsey, 54, about his remarkable nonprofit organization, The Dempsey Center.
In an Instagram video, the Grey’s Anatomy star asked fans to donate to his The Dempsey Center whose mission is to help cancer survivors through fundraising, workshops, and counseling. In the video, Dempsey said that people who donate will have the chance to win a a new electric car, cash prize, and be able to meet Dempsey. However, whether fans win the gift or not, he quickly points out that the most important thing is that people give whatever they can to help those effected by the disease.
Read MorePatrick Dempsey’s Cancer Advocacy
Dempsey got involved in cancer advocacy and fundraising because of his mother, Amanda Dempsey, who he lost to ovarian cancer in 2014. Amanda battled with the disease for 17 years, and experienced multiple reoccurrences throughout her life. While speaking to SurvivorNet at the People vs. Cancer Conference, Dempsey admitted that cancer can cause patients’ and their families lives to change significantly, and Amanda’s reoccurrences were particularly difficult for their family.
“The impact of a cancer diagnosis in a family is devastating and it affects everything,” Dempsey told SurvivorNet. “Everything comes to a screeching halt, and you have to reevaluate how you look at the world, and how you go through it and try to find some normalcy in it.”
Patrick Dempsey talks to SurvivorNet about his experience with cancer, and what led him to help
In addition to helping patients, The Dempsey Center also focuses on providing care givers with complimentary services such as group therapy. While speaking to SurvivorNet, Dempsey urged care givers to take equal care of themselves so they can provide the best help to those they are assisting.
“Remember to take care of yourself," Dempsey said. "If you're not taking care of yourself, it's going to be harder for you to take care of the person you're in charge of. My mother was a fighter. That gave us energy as well, and she got energy from us by being there. … I think that was the thing that was surprising. Her resilience gave us strength … and that's a part of us now."
Patrick Dempsey talks to SurvivorNet about why care givers should be taking care of themselves too
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