LEWISTON — The Dempsey Challenge bike-and-run fundraiser raised a record $1.3 million to support cancer centers in South Portland and Lewiston.

About 2,000 people took part in the weekend event with more than 500 of them doing so through a virtual event across 43 states and 10 countries.

Former “Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey, who participated in the weekend event, was a force behind the Dempsey Center, created in 2008 in partnership with the Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston. Dempsey and his sisters were inspired by their mother, Amanda, who later died from cancer in 2014. It has since expanded to include a center in South Portland.

“It’s always amazing to see how many people have been impacted by cancer, and those are the people who are riding, walking, and running,” Dempsey said.

Although the weekend ended Sunday, fundraising will continue into October in an effort to reach the $1.5 million goal.