178 Strong, Maine State Troopers Team Represented Largest Group at Dempsey Challenge, Partnered With Poland Spring

October 15, 2009

Troopers walked and ran in support of Cancer Center and colleagues battling the disease

LEWISTON, Maine, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday morning, October 4th at 8am, a 178-member Maine State Troopers Team began a 5k walk/run in the Dempsey Challenge to raise money for the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. The State Troopers represented the largest organized team out of 3,500 event participants.

Participants were encouraged to raise funds as they prepared for the event and the Maine State Troopers Team raised over $12,000.

Maine State Trooper, Aaron Turcotte, said he helped organize the team because of the strength and determination of Mike Pearson, a former Trooper who had to leave the force when he was rendered permanently debilitated by the disease. Since Pearson was first diagnosed with brain cancer in 1994, he has undergone a number of surgeries which have left him without any movement on the right side of his body. "Mike Pearson is fighting every single day just to stay alive. He is a true inspiration to the Maine State Troopers and to all people who are affected by this terrible disease," Turcotte said.

Jerry Pearson, Mike's brother, is also a State Trooper serving as a pilot in the Air Wing. Jerry participated with the Maine State Troopers Team at the Dempsey Challenge in honor of his brother. Pearson said, "we encouraged Troopers, non-sworn members, and anyone and everyone that wanted to join our team to participate and help raise money for the Cancer Center. We were the largest team heading at the Dempsey Challenge. People came out of the woodwork to support not only Mike, but all of our friends, family and colleagues who have had to battle cancer."

For Trooper Aaron Turcotte, cancer has hit close to his home, too. His brother, Andrew, the Deputy Fire Chief in Kennebunk, is also a cancer survivor. Andrew and Aaron participated together on the Maine State Troopers Team in the Challenge.

Poland Spring Water Company, the bottled water sponsor of the Dempsey Challenge, partnered with the Maine State Troopers Team. Ray Grady, manager for the Poland bottling plant, said that investing in Maine people is a core value of the company. "I can't imagine a better way to honor Maine people than by supporting the Dempsey Cancer Center, which will be right in our back yard." Grady went on to say "the Maine State Troopers already do so much to make our communities safe. They're always there when we need them and I'm just glad we could help in one small way."

SOURCE Maine Public Safety