In another community-service based activity, the team served as a “cheering squad” along the bike route during the 2nd Annual Patrick Dempsey Challenge. The 2010 Dempsey Challenge attracted 4177 participants from 38 states and five countries, employed over 1000 volunteers and raised over $1.1. Events ranged from a 5K run on Saturday to bike rides of 10, 25, 50 and 100 miles.
The Bobcats were stationed at a particularly challenging uphill along the racecourse, around mile marker 94/44/21(depending on how far each rider was going!). As a result, their cheers of encouragement were met with laughs, smiles, and thankful nods (from those too winded to speak) from the riders. Steve Mortimer, Volunteer Cheer Team Coordinator and Bates Alum '72, sent an email to the team after the event that read in part,
"I don’t know how many riders told you in person, but back at the finish, you were the talk of the Event - no exaggeration! You really made a huge difference.
Every rider I spoke with or overheard was excited about, and thankful for, the amazing support you provided - rider after rider came in talking about the great cheer team that raised their falling spirits and got them through the tough final 4 miles.
Bates Field Hockey is unquestionably the toast of the Dempsey Challenge riders! And that includes riders from almost 40 states. If they hadn’t heard of Bates before today, they know about it now!!
I tried to thank you all personally when I stopped on my way by, but you were so busy rooting riders on that I don’t think anyone even heard me yelling to you!
Please pass along my thanks, and the thanks of the thousands of riders, volunteers and workers associated with the Dempsey Challenge and Center, to your entire team. Words cannot express how important your efforts were, nor how much we all appreciate what you did for us.
You did a truly incredible thing today, and you should feel extremely proud of what you accomplished on behalf of those fighting cancer and all those who love and care about them."
Steve's sister, Leslie Mortimer, Bates class of '77 joined the Bobcat station and had these words to say about the team:
"I was welcomed with open arms by the group and had a blast spending the morning with them. I was freezing and tired, but laughing with them and participating in their antics soon warmed me up and made me forget that I'd rather have been in bed. They are a group of lovely, enthusiastic and sprited young women--much like my classmates at Bates many years ago. I admire them for getting up at the crack of dawn and for sacrificing the time they could have used to sleep or prepare for exams they had today. Being with them made me feel like a college kid again, if only for a few hours!"
Head coach Wynn Hohlt rode the 100 mile loop and raised over $1500.00 for the Dempsey Center. "The ride was a great experience and I am so glad that the team got involved too. After the shock of the early morning wore off, they had a great time! We are looking forward to being even more involved next year."The Dempsey Challenge benefits The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center. Click on this link to learn more about “McDreamy’s” vision for cancer research and the cure: http://www.dempseychallenge.org/. GO BOBCATS!
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