Back in March of last year, Patrick Dempsey officially unveiled the “Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing” at the Central Maine Medical Center. The actor was inspired to create the center after his mother’s continuous battles with ovarian cancer.

Fast-forward to the present and the 43-year-old Grey’s Anatomy star is getting ready to launch the first-ever Dempsey Challenge to help benefit his cancer center. Races of 10-, 20-, 50- and 100-mile rides along with a festival beside the Androscoggin River will bring in riders and runners from 32 states and Canada, including at least four pro riders.

“The cyclists in Maine, I wanted to do something challenging for them and unite these different groups. I am a huge fan of cycling,” Dempsey said in an interview with the Maine Outdoor Journal. “I’d like it to become quite an event. I have been talking to a lot of people who are big into cycling, and I’ll be continuing to work with them I also want to get a lot of feedback from the Maine cycling clubs and see what we can do to improve upon this.”

Dempsey also wants the event to become a symbol of good health; pointing out that bike-riding is a fantastic way to keep the pounds off.  “It’s a great way to stay in shape,” he said. “There is a big problem with obesity. People should get on a bike, and exercise, get into group riding, the socializing aspect of it, and the spirit of the thing.”

To find out more about The Dempsey Challenge, hit the official site here.

Star magazine is reporting that Oh took the cast and crew to Truly Vegan in Hollywood on August 1st and wowed them with a menu of meat-free delights. I mean DUH! Ya’ll know that vegan food is basically the most kickass thing ever!

Apparently her vegetarian crusade was successful too. A source tells the magazine, “They couldn’t believe how amazing the food tasted. Patrick Dempsey enjoyed the chocolate vegan cake and Ellen Pompeo has gone to Truly Vegan half a dozen times since trying the food.”

Now I haven’t read any quotes from Sandra claiming to actually be vegan, and as somebody who essentially studies the art of celebrity eating patterns I’m quick to assume that she merely enjoys vegan food and isn’t necessary a vegan herself.  But hell, vegan or hot I’m totally jazzed that she’s not only eating at vegan restaurants but sharing her finds with friends. YOU GO OH!

As most are aware, Naomi Campbell is a British supermodel with a penchant for cell-phone throwing and physical violence; most recently resulting in her being banned for life from British Airways. But did you also know that Campbell is passionately involved in renewable energy initiatives? So much so, that she was recently honored for her activism? We didn’t either — and because we cover this crazy world 24/7 — we’re shoveling through this massive pile of BS to figure out what in the world actually went down last week to result in such delirium.

Apparently, a fresh new organization that’s literally nowhere to be found online beyond their website, organized the gala at the United Nations last Friday. Called the International Renewable Energy Organization (IREO), their Diamond Awards for Renewable Energy event was meant as an introduction to the new org and an opportunity to honor those making strides in alternative energy.

Leonardo DiCaprio was listed as an attendee on the invite, but apparently he caught wind of the shady intentions of the honors and jumped ship. Other celebrities like Heidi Klum and Patrick Dempsey did manage to show, but we’re not sure exactly why. Joining Campbell in the honors was Petra N?mcová – but at least this is one famous fashion model that has actually helped address the issue of renewables.

The only thing we can remember Campbell doing is picking up trash as part of her community service (for assaulting an assistant), making plans to develop a casino and hotel on a coastal sanctuary for turtles in Kenya, and wearing animal fur and skins for nearly every photo opportunity. What a brilliant choice!

We wish IREO all the luck — they seem to hold promise as an organization with great intentions (even if they’re advisory board is still “Under Construction”) — but we sincerely hope they do a bit more homework before blindly throwing awards at people less than deserving. Better luck next year.

thefilmpanelnotetaker via innercity press

Not On Our Watch, a charity co-founded by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and Jerry Weintraub recently donated $500,000 to the United Nations World Food Program. The cash will be earmarked for the U.N.’s food aid agency to prevent hunger in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan. Said Clooney is a statement, “Without immediate additional funding, humanitarian aid in the region will be crippled”. [visit: Not On Our Watch]

Patrick Dempsey wasn’t the only famous celeb opening a new medial center this week. Down in Australia, Jackie Chan opened a science education center at an Australian cancer research clinic; dedicated in the actor’s name. Chan’s father, Charlie, lived in Aussie for more than 40 years. Organizers did not reveal how much Jackie donated to the new center, but did indicate that the sum was “substantial”. [via StarPulse]

“For a family to get a cancer diagnosis is devastating, and all the information out there can be overwhelming,” said Dempsey. “A lot of the websites I went to just didn’t have enough information. So I talked to my sister about a place where people could go for all this type of information and help. Knowledge is power.”

Dempsey’s sister, who currently works at the hospital, will run the center. Patrick will also lend time taking part in the center’s education campaign about how to prevent and detect cancer.

These are the types of donations of both time and money that I can really get behind. It’s wonderful when a celebrity’s influence and cash immediately start benefiting those in need. So many times, you wonder where all the money is going. Nice work.

via San Fran Chronicle