CAMDEN — Days after Shannon Thompson of Camden finished the Lake Placid Ironman July 27, she jumped right into fundraising for her second time participating in the Dempsey Challenge.

"Really, what my thinking was, I did this Ironman, I experienced an unbelievable amount of love and support from a large contingent of people and really, the last time I felt this kind of support was when my little niece, Phoebe, died," said Thompson. "It was humbling, and I felt so buoyed by the people around me then. And to experience that again without being in crisis and grief, I felt so lucky because who gets to feel this way twice in their life?"

So, she said, she decided to monetize the glow and inspiration she felt, and leverage it to support people who really need it.

"And boy, did people step up," said Thompson. .

A two-day event, the Dempsey Challenge raises funds for the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing in Lewiston. The Dempsey Center provides free support, education and wellness services to anyone affected by cancer — regardless of where treatment is received.

This year's Dempsey Challenge t is Sept. 27-28, with the choice of a 5K or 10K run/walk on Saturday and cycling rides of 10, 25, 50, 70 or 100 miles.

Now that she's an Ironman, contemplating participating in a "challenge" just didn't seem hard enough, she said. So not only did Thompson choose to run the 10K on Saturday and bike for 100 miles Sunday, she rode her bike the 75 miles to Lewiston Sept. 26, one day before the start of the Dempsey Challenge.

"When I consider what it's like to have cancer, or to love someone who has cancer, I know that no "challenge" I dream up for the weekend would even compare," said Thompson. "But in honor of all the people who don't get to choose their challenges, and in deep appreciation for my good health, I'm planning a weekend that will be physically and mentally demanding."

Thompson was joined Friday by another friend, Dennis Grannis-Phoenix, for part of the ride west on Route 17, before they parted ways at Route 220. Thompson continued on, making a pit stop at the A-1 Diner in Gardiner for lunch, which was the halfway point to Lewiston.

Thompson said the ride from Camden to Lewiston would be about six hours, and she arrived at Edward Little High School in Auburn, where she was warmly welcomed by the students.

"I got a hero's welcome from MY heroes — the PT Red Eddies Team! These incredible kids have been raising money all year for the Dempsey Center. A whole bunch of them are going to run their first 5K tomorrow. Good luck, guys, and thanks for the awesome greeting! I am SO PROUD to be on your team!" wrote Thompson on her Facebook page Friday.

This year, Thompson and her friend, Tom Armitage, were picked to join the PT Red Eddies team from Edward Little H.S. Including Thompson and Armitage, the team has 51 members.

"I think because Tom and I were the goofiest adults, they chose us to team up with the kids," said Thompson. "But seriously, they chose us to mentor and help give the kids a boost, but they don't need it anymore, they are doing a great job on their own."

Another "member" of the PT Red Eddies team is Positive Tracks, a foundation with a goal to get kids involved in philanthropy through athletic events and raising money while doing so. With Thompson and Armitage on board as the team's mentors, Positive Tracks will be matching dollar-for-dollar what the kids raise for the Dempsey Challenge. As a charity partner with the Dempsey Center, Positive Tracks benefits all youth participants, age 23 or under, with the dollar-for-dollar match.

Thompson also stepped up her personal fundraising challenge and set a goal of $10,000, because "why not?" In the 2013 Dempsey Challenge, her friends and family helped her raise $3,000, "which was staggering and wonderful and amazing.

"I'm setting up these challenges for myself, unlike people who get cancer," said Thompson. "When I consider what it's like to have cancer, or to love someone who has cancer, I know that no 'challenge I dream up for the weekend would even compare, so I'm going big."

In addition to her niece, Pheobe, who would be 9 this year but died of a brain tumor when she was 6, Thompson's Dempsey Challenge bike partner, Armitage, discovered the Dempsey Center when his prostate cancer came back a few years ago.

"He makes the trek to the Dempsey Center from his home in Tenants Harbor often, because the spirit of love and support is tremendous there and it helps keep his spirits up as well," said Thompson. "He deals with his cancer by being healthy and exercising a lot too."

Thompson not only met, but surpassed her fundraising goal. She wanted to get that first $1,000 as soon as possible, to spur others on, and her friends helped her get there the first day she issued the challenge, Aug. 8.

Twenty-one days later, Aug. 29, Thompson's total had reached $8,210. On Sept. 2 she had reached the $9,000 mark, and on Sept. 4, she posted on Facebook that her family and friends had helped her reach the $10,000 mark.

As of Sept. 26, her total stands at $12,365, and she is listed on the Dempsey Challenge website as raising the third largest amount behind #2 David Gervais ($22,819) and #1 Katy Romano ($24,138.)

Armitage is #5 on the Dempsey Challenge Top 10 Fundraising list, having raised $10,850.

In total six individuals raised the $10,000 necessary to earn a special bike ride Saturday afternoon with Patrick Dempsey and a handful of professional cyclists. The leisurely ride, under police escort, gave the six the chance to talk with Dempsey and share stories back and forth.

The top fundraising group was also welcomed to the invitation-only Champions of Hope Celebration Saturday night, beginning just before 6 p.m. It was another chance to meet and talk with Dempsey and professional runners, cyclists, other athletes and special guests.

Sunday is the big day, when Thompson and the other cyclists will hit the road to complete their personal challenges. This year, the Dempsey Challenge has 373 registered teams, comprised of a total of 3,085 individuals.

"Sunday is not going to be a piece of cake for me," said Thompson. "I'm dealing with some sciatica and I'm feeling nervous about it. But you know, it's not cancer, so I'm gonna go do it and I'm gonna love it," said Thompson. "I'm just so grateful, and to the people who have stepped up with donations, and in other ways too, it's so heartwarming and humbling."

More information about the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing is available online.

To view the schedule, teams and individual racers fundraising totals, visit the Dempsey Challenge website.