Women’s basketball players run for a cause

LEWISTON, Maine - Two members of the University of Maine at Augusta women's basketball team traded their high tops for running shoes last month when they participated in the Seventh Annual Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston, Maine. Junior captain Jamie Plummer ran the 5K race while senior Emily Karter participated in the 10K.

The Dempsey Challenge was initiated by actor and Lewiston native Patrick Dempsey, known for his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. The challenge includes cycling distances of 10, 25, 50, 70 and 100 miles as well as the 5K and 10K run/walk. 100 percent of the proceeds from the challenge benefit the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing. 

As is the case for many who participate in the event, both student athletes have been personally touched by cancer and wanted the opportunity to be a part of something that was bigger than themselves. This was the first time either Plummer or Karter participated in the challenge.  

"My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014," Karter, who also lost her grandfather to prostate cancer, said. "And as soon as that happened, my uncle, her brother, put together a team for the challenge and everyone in my family signed on."

As it turns out, Karter's team, named Big Bird, was one of the largest groups to participate in the challenge this year, with 30 members who came together to raise close to $7,000. Every member of Karter's mother's side of the family participated in some part of the challenge, with her uncle riding the 100 mile bike ride and her grandmother walking the 5K. Though it was a family affair, the senior was constantly reminded of just how many people are affected by the disease.

"A common question I was asked was who are you here for," said Karter. "I was there to celebrate those who won the battle with cancer and to remember the ones who did not."

Plummer was invited to participate in the challenge by her best friend, who lost both of her grandmothers to cancer. She was joined by her mother and younger sister Julie on the team Answer for Cancer. 

The Dempsey Center was founded in 2008 by Patrick and sisters Mary and Alicia in honor of their mother, Amanda Dempsey, who passed away from cancer in March of 2014. Participants in the challenge are asked to raise a minimum of $150 to participate and if you're under the age of 23 the Dempsey foundation doubles your funds. The Center provides free cancer support, education and integrative medicine services to anyone impacted by cancer, regardless of where treatment is received.

"It was a really fun experience," said Plummer, a native of Richmond, Maine. "Seeing all of the posters during the last half mile of the race was very eye opening and very inspirational. It really reminds you to be thankful for everything you have and to never give up." 

Karter still gets chills when she thinks about crossing that finish line. 

"On the bridge to the finish line there are just all of these posters, and there was one for my grandfather," Karter said. "I've done races before, but this was my first time doing it for someone who was so close to me. And it was just so humbling to see all of those signs and banners with people's names. It was an amazing experience."

Both student-athletes plan to do the race again next year, and Plummer plans to bring her teammates in to the mix for next year's event. For more information on the Dempsey Center and the Dempsey Challenge, visit www.dempseycenter.org.