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V O L . X X X I N O. V M A R C H 1 0 , 2 0 2 5 16 L I F E S C I E N C E S / I N N OVAT I O N Plastic and Hand Surgical Center will be coming in September and a stand-alone radiation oncology suite will open next door in June. "I'm excited for five years from now when we can catch cancers much earlier. To me that's exciting. What we do is save lives, but every- thing we do is about giving people more time, that's the most important thing," Cote says. Dempsey Center offers host of support services Just upstairs from NECS, patients and caregivers can access counseling, exercise classes, massage and Reiki therapy, even acupuncture at the new- est location for the Dempsey Center, all at no cost. Founded in 2008 in Lewiston by actor and Maine-native Patrick Dempsey in the wake of his mother's cancer, the center had added a second location in South Portland. at 8,000-square-foot facility has now been replaced with the opening of the facility's 15,000-square-foot home in Westbrook. e Dempsey Center also operates Clayton House in Portland's East End which provides accommodations for patients and caregivers who have to travel for can- cer treatment. e large, inviting space on the fourth floor in the NECS building has a dedicated room for yoga and fitness classes. ere's also more space than in the previous South Portland location for patient treatments and group support meetings. Social time with specially trained furry friends has become a favored part of center visits. "Our Dempsey dogs also participate in 'Doga' yoga classes with our clients. As you can imagine, it is beloved," says Katelynn Davis, marketing and com- munications director. ere are currently six teams of dogs, who with their handlers, provide a welcome distraction from the stress of cancer, both in the Dempsey Center and downstairs at NECS. e "Dempsey Dogs" program is supported by IDEXX Laboratories. e organization's $5.17 million budget is funded largely through grants, donations and fundraising events, including the annual Dempsey Challenge bike, run and walk event. Tina Fischer, Mainebiz staff writer, can be reached at tfischer @ mainebiz.biz SUNDAY, APRIL 13 REGISTER TODAY! JOIN US FOR THE THE 27TH ANNUAL W W W . M A R Y S W A L K . O R G Walk in support of the Maine cancer community, your friends, family, neighbors, and Maine Cancer Foundation $ 3 0 | A D U L T S 1 2 & U N D E R | F R E E THORNTON ACADEMY | SACO, ME | NOON Day-of registration starting at 10am | Opening Ceremonies at 11:30am » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E F O C U S Brandon Hotham, interim president and CEO at the Dempsey Center, in the nonprofit's new space at Rock Row. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY

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