A. The answer is both! On the weekend of September 24 + 25, you will have the opportunity to participate in-person in the Local Challenge in Lewiston, Maine or virtually in the Global Challenge from wherever you are, around the world. Choose your location, your activity, your distance and set your fundraising goal. Then start training and asking friends and family to support your goal. We will come together as one unified global community in an epic live streamed celebration to celebrate $1.6 million fundraised on Dempsey Challenge weekend!
The Dempsey Challenge team will continue to monitor Maine state health and safety guidelines; and, should circumstances warrant a change, Dempsey Challenge weekend will pivot any activities accordingly.
To stay connected with the Dempsey Challenge community as we train for the Challenge, join the Dempsey Challenge Strava Club and the Dempsey Center Facebook Fundraising Group. Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
A. Dempsey Challenge 2022 is happening now, culminating in a weekend of celebration on September 24 + 25. Our goal is to fundraise $1.6 million that will go directly towards helping make life better for people managing the impact of cancer.
To stay connected with the Dempsey Challenge community as we #RallyTogether on September 24 + 25, join the Dempsey Challenge Strava Club and the Dempsey Center Facebook Fundraising Group. Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
A. In any way or any place you want! Register for the Local Challenge (in-person event located in Lewiston/Auburn, Maine) or the Global Challenge (virtual event taking place anywhere, and in any way you choose). You’ll be supported and encouraged every step of the way as you complete your own Dempsey Challenge, regardless of how you choose to participate. Whether you are a returning participant or new to the Dempsey Challenge, let's RALLY TOGETHER!
Choose your event:
- Saturday, September 24: Dempsey Challenge 5K/10K presented by Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water
- Choose either a 5K or 10K course
- Sunday, September 25: Dempsey Challenge Rides presented by Specialized
- Riders will choose a 10-mile, 25-, 50-, 65-, or 100-mile cycling route
- Or Dempsey Challenge Combo Run/Walk and Ride events
- Participants will choose their distance in both events on Saturday 9/24 and Sunday 9/25
- Saturday or Sunday, September 24 or 25: Global Challenge
- Participants pick any activity (run, walk, ride or other), complete the activity any time on Challenge weekend and submit to earn an official Global Challenge Finisher patch
- Click here to learn more about the Global Challenge
To stay connected with the Dempsey Challenge community as we #RallyTogether on September 24 + 25, join the Dempsey Challenge Strava Club and the Dempsey Center Facebook Fundraising Group. Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Q. Do I have to be from Maine in order to participate at the in-person event, the Local Challenge? +
A. No. All are welcome to re-join us in Lewiston/Auburn, ME for an in-person Dempsey Challenge event experience. With safety as our priority, please note CDC and Maine state health practices will be followed.
A. Yes - you can change from the Global Challenge (virtual) to the Local Challenge (in-person) by September 20th. After that date, you'll need to visit the Troubleshooting Tent on Challenge weekend to switch from a Global participant to a Local participant in order to receive the correct bib. As a reminder, in order to participant in the Local Challenge, you will need to hit your fundraising minimum based on your participant type.
If you’ve already registered for the Local Challenge and decide you do not want to attend in person - no problem! Just complete the Challenge virtually on your own route!
To change your location, please contact [email protected].
A. Yes, a fundraising commitment of $250 is required to participate in the Dempsey Challenge, with your registration fee counting towards that total. ($250 fundraising - $60 reg fee = $190 left to hit your goal!)
Youth participants ages 18 & under* receive registration and fundraising discounts as outlined below:
- $30 registration with a suggested fundraising goal of $125
- *Age as of 9/25/2022
There is no penalty if you do not hit your fundraising minimum as a Global Challenger. However, as a Global Challenger, you have ability to earn the same incredible fundraising incentives, shipped directly to you after the event.
Questions? Please contact us at [email protected].
A. We no longer have a dedicated Dempsey Challenge app, however you can save the Dempsey Challenge website to the home screen of your smartphone. You will have immediate access to your Participant dashboard and updated information on the website.
iPhone Instructions:
- Delete the old Dempsey Challenge app if you currently have it downloaded to your phone by holding the icon down and choose "Remove App" to uninstall.
- Launch Safari on your iPhone and navigate to dempseychallenge.org.
- Tap the Share icon
(the square with an arrow pointing out of it) at the bottom of the screen. - Scroll down to the list of actions and tap Add to Home Screen. (If you don't see the action, scroll to the bottom and tap Edit Actions, then tap Add next to the Add to Home Screen action. After that, you'll be able to select it from the Share Sheet.)
Android Instructions:
- Delete the old Dempsey Challenge app if you currently have it downloaded to your phone by holding the icon down and choose "App Info" on the shortcut screen and choose "Uninstall" to remove.
- Launch “Chrome” app and navigate to dempseychallenge.org.
- Tap the menu icon (3 dots in upper right-hand corner) and tap Add to Homescreen.
A. To stay connected with the Dempsey Challenge global community as we gear up for a powerful weekend in September you can join the Dempsey Challenge Strava Club here. We’ll have challenges, online events and amazing incentives along the way to keep you motivated! Click here for a How To guide to Strava.
Q. What is the registration fee for Dempsey Challenge 2022? +
A. The registration fee for Dempsey Challenge 2022 is $60 for one event, or $100 for both. Youth participants ages 18 & under receive a 50% discount on both a single event or combo event registration.
Registration fees count towards your fundraising goal, and includes a t-shirt to welcome you to the Dempsey Challenge community. Local Challengers will receive their t-shirt on Challenge weekend, along with any fundraising incentives earned. Registration deadline for Global Challengers to receive a t-shirt in time for Challenge weekend is September 1, 2022. All other shirts will be shipped after the event.
A. Please see age guidelines below:
- LOCAL CHALLENGE RUN/WALK - All ages welcome for the Local Challenge run/walk. Children who will be in a stroller do not need to register and will not receive a bib and/or registration swag.
- LOCAL CHALLENGE RIDE - All ages are welcome for the family-friendly 10-mile ride and the 25-mile ride. Participants must be 15 years old on or before September 25, 2022 in order to participate in the 50-, 65- or 100-mile ride.
- GLOBAL CHALLENGE - Any and all ages are welcome to participate in the Global Dempsey Challenge.
Questions? Please contact us at [email protected].
A. Visit dempseychallenge.org and click register.
First, you will choose Participant Type:
- Adult Global Challenger OR Youth Global Challenger to take part in the virtual event on September 24th or 25th
- Adult Local Run/Walk OR Youth Local Run/Walk (ages 18 & under)
- To take place on Saturday, September 24th in Lewiston, Maine
- Adult Local Ride OR Youth Local Ride (ages 18 & under)
- To take place on Sunday, September 25th in Lewiston, Maine
- Adult Local Run/Walk + Ride OR Youth Local Run/Walk + Ride (ages 18 & under)
- Run/Walk to take place on Saturday, September 24th in Lewiston, Maine
- Ride to take place on Sunday, September 25th in Lewiston, Maine
Next, you'll choose your distance:
- Saturday, September 24: Dempsey Challenge 5K/10K presented by Poland Spring® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water
- Choose either a 5K or 10K course
- Sunday, September 26: Dempsey Challenge Rides presented by Specialized
- Riders will choose a family friendly 10-mile, 25-, 50-, 65-, or 100-mile cycling route
- Or Combo Run/Walk and Ride events
- Participants will choose their distance in both events on Saturday and Sunday
Lastly, you'll set your fundraising goals and get access to your customizable Participant Page.
A. Not at all! We encourage Dempsey Challengers to build blended teams of riders, walkers, runners, and virtual participants who choose their own Challenge! You can even create a team with members from different cities, states and even countries. Participating in the Dempsey Challenge has no barriers and is a great way to connect with family and friends from all around the globe. Many team captains choose to host Zoom fundraising check-ins, create train-for-the-Challenge Facebook groups or motivate each other in Strava. The possibilities are endless!
A. Of course! Simply email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you make your changes.
A. Because of our generous sponsors, 100% of funds you raise go directly to making life better for people impacted by cancer. In 2021, Dempsey Challenge participants fundraised more than $1.5 million to provide life-changing support services for cancer patients and their families. Check out the Fundraising Guide to help you achieve your fundraising goals!
Every dollar you raise helps to make life better for people managing a cancer diagnosis.
A. Yes, a fundraising commitment of $250 is required to participate in the Dempsey Challenge, with your registration fee counting towards that total. ($250 fundraising - $60 reg fee = $190 left to hit your goal!)
Youth participants ages 18 & under receive registration and fundraising discounts as outlined below:
- $30 registration with a suggested fundraising goal of $125
- *Age as of 9/25/2022
There is no penalty if you do not hit your fundraising minimum as a Global Challenger. However, as a Global Challenger, you have ability to earn the same incredible fundraising incentives, shipped directly to you after the event.
In-person Challengers: Please note that when you pick up your incentives in the park, your fundraising will be considered complete. No incentives will be mailed out to in-person Challengers post-event (unless pre-arranged).
Questions? Please contact us at [email protected].
A. Once you log in to your Participant Center, you can edit your fundraising goal from your dashboard page. Simply click the pencil icon next to your current goal to adjust it.
A. Absolutely! Check out the Incentives page to see what you can achieve through your fundraising.
A. The fundraising incentive deadline is September 26th at 12:00pm ET. Local participants will pick up earned incentives in the Incentive Tent during Challenge weekend. Global Challengers will be shipped incentives in October.
In-person Challengers: Please note that when you pick up your incentives in the park, your fundraising will be considered complete. No incentives will be mailed out to in-person Challengers post-event (unless pre-arranged).
A. Join our Dempsey Center Fundraising Group on Facebook and share them to the page using the hashtag #RallyTogether. Or email us at [email protected].
A. Yes! We will have volunteer roles for our in-person Local Challenge event. We will open volunteer registration in August, along with a complete list of volunteer opportunities.
Q. What can I do to help? +
A. Register and recruit! This year, we invite you to be part of our amazing community of fundraisers while riding, walking, running — or doing an activity of your choice! Register as a Global Challenger, choose your activity, set your fundraising goal (we suggest $250) and you’re in!
Imagine if every one of our 600+ volunteers fundraised at least $250 – that would mean $150,000 raised to support the Dempsey Center's mission of making life better for people managing the impact of cancer! Let's RALLY TOGETHER!
A. Your donors’ gifts are already hard at work providing vital services to people impacted by cancer. For a complete list of services, please visit dempseycenter.org.
Q. How do I donate to The Dempsey Challenge? +
A. Donate online with your credit card. Alternatively, you can mail in donations (check or credit card) using our Offline Donation Tracking Form. Please make checks payable to Dempsey Center. If you are donating to a specific participant, be sure to include the participant and/or team name to whom you are donating on the check memo line.
Dempsey Challengers: If you receive a check that is made out to you, you can endorse the check on the back to Dempsey Center.
Checks can be mailed to:
The Dempsey Challenge
P.O. Box 277
Auburn, ME 04212
A. Cash donations can only be accepted in-person at either Dempsey Center location (29 Lowell Street in Lewiston or 778 Main Street in South Portland). If you opt to do this, please include the name and address of the donor so we can send a thank you and tax acknowledgement.
For your convenience, a Donation Tracking Sheet is available.
A. Yes. The Dempsey Center is a nonprofit incorporated in the state of Maine and accepting donations from all 50 states. Our tax ID number is 82-1547129. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Donations received by the Dempsey Center will receive an acknowledgement for tax purposes. All online donations will receive a tax receipt instantly via email – please keep it for your records. If you donate via check, the name and address appearing on the check will receive a thank you and tax acknowledgment.
A. Individual donations are made directly to the participant and count towards their fundraising goal. To make an individual donation, choose Donate on the Dempsey Challenge home page. Use the participant search function by entering the participant’s first and last names and clicking the ‘search’ button. Scroll down to view results.
Team donations: If you want to make a team donation with the intention of distributing equal amounts to each team member, this must be done by CASH or CHECK only. We do not have the ability to divide a credit card donation. Please keep in mind that we only accept cash donations in person. Email [email protected] to make an appointment.
You can use our Team Donation Worksheet to split team member donations.
A. Definitely! Simply ask your HR rep to submit the paperwork to the Dempsey Center. Be sure to note the matching gift is for the Dempsey Challenge. Once we receive the matching gift, we’ll post to your Participant Page. Please note the time it takes to receive the actual gift can vary depending on your company. Some companies will send the money within a couple weeks of your request, while others take months to send the money.
Matching gifts are an easy way to increase your fundraising! Be sure to encourage your donors to submit matching gift requests to leverage your fundraising.
A. They can donate by credit card to your personal fundraising page and enter the amount in American dollars. Please encourage any Canadian friends to donate online instead of by check.
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