Company Newsletter Sample Join Our Team in Support of the Dempsey Challenge! Here’s a great way to get in shape while supporting community members whose lives have been impacted by cancer. Please consider joining our team for the second annual Dempsey Challenge presented by Amgen on October 2nd and 3rd! Joining our team is easy, and can be done online through the event website www.dempseychallenge.org. Instructions on how to join our team are included at the end of this article. The Dempsey Challenge: What is it? The Dempsey Challenge is non-competitive, fundraising event that serves as the primary fundraiser for The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center, which provides support, education and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers 100% free of charge. "The outpouring of support for this event has been incredible,” said Patrick Dempsey, film and television actor and founder of the Dempsey Center. “It shows that anything is possible when people unite for a cause. I'm excited about the new two-day format and connecting with this community once again." The Challenge has been expanded to a two-day format this year featuring run/walk distances of 5-kilometers (3.1 miles) and 10-kilometers (6.2 miles) on Saturday, Oct. 2 and cycling distances of 10, 25, 50 and 100-miles on Sunday, Oct. 3. Each event will begin and end at Simard-Payne Police Memorial Park in Lewiston, Maine. Returning events include the Festival in the Park on Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, October 3. The Festival hosts a Health and Wellness Expo, KidZone, Spirit of Hope Tent, logo merchandise, live entertainment and food concessions.  The participant lobster bake and the Amgen Breakaway from Cancer Survivor Walk will take place Sunday, Oct. 2. Run/Walk participants will enjoy replenishment at the breakfast tent on Saturday and they can purchase a ticket for the lobster bake on Sunday too! The inaugural one-day event in 2009 attracted 3,500 participants from 32 states and four countries, over 600 volunteers and raised over one-million dollars. Dempsey participated in the 50-mile ride alongside professional cyclists George Hincapie, David Zabriskie, Stephen Roche and Ted King. Dempsey created the event as a fundraising vehicle for the Dempsey Center and to promote physical activity as an important part of daily life. What is the cost? There is a required entry fee of $35 for the run/walk, $75 for cycling, and $100 for those who wish to participate in both a run/walk and a cycle event. There is also a required fundraising minimum of $150 that has been set for each registrant 18 years and over. Participants who choose to walk and ride will only have a $150 minimum requirement.  100% of the donations raised will benefit The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. To help individuals reach their minimum fundraising requirements our team wants to host fundraising events and split funds raised among participating team members! Please contact (insert name of team captain here), our Team Captain at (insert contact information), if you have fundraising ideas! Which event should I register for? Please feel free to register for any event you wish! Although many of us will be participating in one of the run/walk events, all members of our team do not need to be registered for the same event in order to be considered part of our team. Family and friends are welcome to join our team too! There is recognition given to the team with the most members AND the highest fundraising, so please encourage as many people as possible to join! The sooner you register the better. Participant caps have been set at 4,000 for the run/walk and 3,500 for cycling. How do I sign up? •    Go to The Challenge website:  www.dempseychallenge.org •    Click on Register •    Select Join a Team •    Select (insert your Team Name here) from the drop down list. •    Enter your event selection and personal information and you’re done! Downloadable Image: Patrick Dempsey at finish line http://www.dempseychallenge.org/assets/media_dempsey_finishline.jpg Caption: Patrick Dempsey waves to onlookers as he crosses the finish line alongside professional cyclists George Hincapie (left) and Ted King at the 2009 Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston, Maine. (Photo by Tracey Twitchell-Pray)