LEWISTON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Employees at the health care information technology company McKesson not only have the most team members participating in next month's Dempsey Challenge, they've taken the cause to heart.
Wednesday, employees were making cards that patients at the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing will be able to use. Employees also have done knitting and sold baked goods to help ou the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing. The company decided to take on cancer as a cause for this year, but McKesson's Executive Director of Operations Kristin Syphers says employees have really adopted the Dempsey Challenge. "They took it on. They wanted to do it. And they've really represented our company in a wonderful way," she said.
Team McKesson has 164 members participating in the Dempsey Challenge, but not all of them will show up to walk, bike or run next month. Most are "virtual members," meaning that they have pledged to raise at least $150 for the event. "We were going to be happy with 25 people," team leader Kristen Repecko said. "Tha twas it. We went from that to an overwhelming 164 that we have today."
Repecko says she and many other employees have been inspired to do more after seeing the Dempsey Center and understanding what it does. "All their services are free. Everything is free. They'll find a way to help you pay for your medical bills, to be with you every step of the way if you don't have someone," she said.
Repecko says she and her team members want to continue to volunteer and help out the Dempsey Center even after the day of the ride, walk and run. No one person inspired the team to become as big as it is, but each member has his or her own story of why they're participating. Repecko plans to pin pictures of her grandparents to her jersey when she takes part, and she is selling space on her shirt for pictures of cancer survivors or victims whose loved ones want to donate.
The Dempsey Challenge takes place October 13-14. Click here for more information.
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