Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica Team with Grey’s Anatomy Star Patrick Dempsey to Fight Cancer

MIAMI – Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica were among the many proud sponsors of The Dempsey Challenge, a non-competitive race in which participants are challenged to cycle, run or walk to raise funds in support of The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. The Dempsey Center provides free support, education and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. The event held recently in Lewiston, Maine raised more than $1 million.

The inaugural Dempsey Challenge attracted a maximum 3,500 participants from 32 states and four countries, and 600+ volunteers. Dempsey participated in the 50-mile ride alongside professional cyclists George Hincapie, David Zabriskie, Stephen Roche and Ted King, as well as members of the Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica cycling team. Dempsey created the event as a fundraising vehicle for the Dempsey Center and to promote physical activity as an important part of daily life.

For 2010, The Dempsey Challenge will be expanded to a two-day event. Run/walk races will cover distances of five-kilometers (3.1 miles) and 10-kilometers (6.2 miles) on Saturday, October 2. Cycling races will extend 10, 25, 50 and 100-miles on Sunday, October 3.

Participant caps of 4,000 have been set for the run/walk and 3,500 for cycling. Participants are encouraged to create or join teams through the Dempsey Challenge website (http://dempseychallenge.org) to assist their fundraising efforts. Volunteer information and registration will be available through the Challenge website on March 1, 2010.

“Cancer impacts one in three Americans, so we all have a stake in this fight,” said Raul Villagran, director of sales and marketing for Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica. “We’re proud to have contributed to the success of this wonderful event as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests live and work, as well as those where our resorts are located.”

Pictured attached with Patrick Dempsey are Jackie Raccuglia, manager e-commerce & marketing for Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica (left) and Pieralberto Raccuglia, general manager of Candlewood Suites Miami (right).