When 55-year-old Jill Bruce of Auburn was diagnosed with breast cancer in June last year, everything came to a screeching halt.

''It stops you in your tracks and suddenly everything in your life is different. You think about things like, how much longer do I have to live? What does this mean and what about my kids?'' With her family living out of state, the self-described independent woman was hesitant and unsure where to seek out support.

And then her phone rang.

On the other line was Liane Bender, cancer resource specialist and center assistant for The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing. Bender explained that the mission of the center is to provide education, support and health promotion for those battling or touched by cancer and offered an open invitation to visit the ''Dempsey Center,'' located on the Central Maine Medical Center campus at 10 High St. in Lewiston.

''I don't usually rely on other folks for support,'' said Bruce, ''but I realized that I'm going through something that is brand new to me and I don't even know where to begin to start. Something forced me outside of my comfort zone to go explore what they have.''

She found a friendly and professional staff who treated her with respect, the opportunity to have a support network to help her through her journey with cancer and, perhaps most important, hope.

The Dempsey Center offers an endless list of free support and wellness services for cancer patients, caregivers and their families.

There is a resource library and reading area stocked with more than 450 cancer-related books and videos on everything from what to eat when going through chemotherapy treatment to advice on coping for children. They offer a multitude of wellness services including yoga, massage, acupuncture and stress management and they feature support services in the form of support groups, oncology social work services and financial resource counseling. They also hold varied group activities such as knitting circles, jewelry-making classes, art exploration classes and puppet making for children. All of the services are free.

Established in March of 2008, the center, which is named after the native Maine actor and center's benefactor, Patrick Dempsey, is a non-profit that relies on donations and fundraising to continue to provide its services without charge. In 2009 alone, the center made more than 8,000 patient and caregiver contacts.

Last October, 3,500 bikers, runners and walkers participated in the Dempsey Challenge, the center's first major fundraising event. It raised more than $1 million and attracted thousands to the Lewiston/Auburn area, whether they were taking part in the running or cycling events or if just wanted to catch a glimpse of Dempsey -- currently ''Dr. McDreamy'' from Grey's Anatomy -- or any of the professional cycling greats such as George Hincapie, David Zabriskie, Ted King and Stephen Roche, who were actively involved throughout the weekend.

The event returns this October with an increased number of participants and additional events due to the overwhelming response from the community last year. There will now be a 10-kilometer as well as the original 5-kilometer run/walk course for participants and the 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-mile cycle tours.

Numbers have been raised from a cap of 3,500 total participants in 2009 to 4,000 available slots for runners and walkers and 3,500 for cyclists. Due to the dramatic increase in numbers, the event will take place over two days, Oct. 2 and 3, with the run/walk events on Saturday and the cycling on Sunday.

''This event appeals to everyone,'' said Mark Turcotte, communications specialist for the Dempsey Center. ''It appeals to runners, it appeals to walkers, it appeals to cyclists and it appeals to anyone who knows anyone who has had cancer. People just want to be associated with this event. They want to help out. They want to do something for the cause, and that's the best part.''

Shannon Gilmartin, who has lost several family members to the disease, came all the way from New York with her husband to participate in the Dempsey Challenge last year. She was the top fundraiser, amassing more than $10,000 dollars, which earned her a chance to go on a private bicycle ride with Patrick Dempsey and the Tour de France greats. But what really touched Gilmartin, and the reason she plans on coming back in 2010 with her team ''Buddha Rubbers,'' was the emotional satisfaction she got from participating.

''The experience was surreal. The signs from people on the side of the road thanking us for riding, especially the ones from cancer patients or their families, were really moving. I had tears streaming down my face more than once,'' said Gilmartin.

''This is a great facility. I have not met a nicer bunch of people than those at the Dempsey Center and I truly believe that their approach to healing patients on all levels is the way to go. My relatives who fought this battle never had a place like this. Would it have made a difference in their survival? There is no way to know for sure, but I know it would have at the very least helped them through a very rough time in their lives. I ride again because I need to. I want to feel like I am doing something to help those who need it.''

New this year is a personal fundraising goal for each registered participant. An initial $35 charge for runners/walkers and a $75 charge for cyclists when signing up is required, as well as a fundraising minimum of $150 for anyone over the age of 18. The idea of the fundraising minimum was to help those involved get that feeling of connectivity to the center that Gilmartin experienced.

''Every participant who wears a bib on that weekend has now done something for the cause,'' explained Turcotte.

The home base for the event is Lewiston's Simard-Payne Memorial Park where a Festival in the Park will be held over the weekend. There will be live entertainment including music, jugglers, cheerleading squads and dancers, a Health and Wellness Expo where health practitioners will demonstrate their skills, a KidZone and vendor fair. Confirmed to participate in this year's challenge is Patrick Dempsey and professional cyclists George Hincapie and Chris Horner. A survivor walk will be held on Sunday in conjunction with the closing ceremonies, something Bruce, who is now cancer-free, can happily take part in.

''I went through hell and back,'' said Bruce. ''I cannot imagine going through what I did without the Dempsey Center being there as a source of support -- in so many ways. For all that they did and for it to be offered free of charge, releasing that financial burden, was so important for my healing. Taking part in the Dempsey Challenge ensures that these services, which are such a critical piece of someone's treatment, can continue.''