The Central Maine Medical Center Woman’s Hospital Association will sponsor a new fundraising event as part of this fall’s Dempsey Challenge. The Memory Mums Project was created in honor of the late Amanda Dempsey, mother of actor Patrick Dempsey, who founded the Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope & Healing. Amanda Dempsey had multiple bouts with cancer, living with the disease for many years and becoming an inspiration for others coping with cancer. She passed away in 2014.

“The Memory Mums Project was conceived as a way of honoring Amanda and all our loved ones, especially our ‘Mums,’” said Woman’s Hospital Association president Sharon Poulin. “The WHA is proud to introduce this new fundraiser to help patients dealing with cancer.”

The Memory Mums Project will benefit the following cancer-related services at CMMC: the Dempsey Center’s continuing efforts to provide support for patients and families affected by cancer; the Cancer Care Immediate Needs Fund at the Cynthia Rydholm Center, which helps cancer patients in crisis with needed medication (for which the WHA has raised funds through its “Tree of Love” since 1983); and the Bennett Breast Care Center Patients’ Needs Fund, which helps pay for screening mammograms, extended diagnostic images, and breast biopsy services for women and men who either do not have insurance or have inadequate insurance to cover these services (which the WHA took over funding in 2009).

Memory Mums must be pre-ordered so that the flowers will be ready for planting on CMMC grounds. The mums will be on display from September 15 through October, each with a personalized placard bearing the name of your loved one. For more information about the Memory Mums Project, including related volunteer opportunities, or to order a mum and placard, call 795-2295 or email wha.since1888@gmail.com.

Memory Mum order forms are also available at the WHA Gift Shop in the main lobby at CMMC.