Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica were among the many proud sponsors of
The Dempsey Challenge, a non-competitive race in which participants are challenged to cycle, run or walk to raise funds in support of
The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. The Dempsey Center provides free support, education and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. The event held recently in Lewiston, Maine raised more than $1 million.
Pictured with
Patrick Dempsey are
Jackie Raccuglia, manager e-commerce & marketing for Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica (left) and
Pieralberto Raccuglia, general manager of
Candlewood Suites Miami (right).
The inaugural Dempsey Challenge attracted a maximum 3,500 participants from 32 states and four countries, and 600+ volunteers. Dempsey participated in the 50-mile ride alongside professional cyclists
George Hincapie,
David Zabriskie,
Stephen Roche and
Ted King, as well as members of the Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica cycling team. Dempsey created the event as a fundraising vehicle for the Dempsey Center and to promote physical activity as an important part of daily life. For 2010, The Dempsey Challenge will be expanded to a two-day event. Run/walk races will cover distances of five-kilometers (3.1 miles) and 10-kilometers (6.2 miles) on Saturday, October 2. Cycling races will extend 10, 25, 50 and 100-miles on Sunday, October 3. Participant caps of 4,000 have been set for the run/walk and 3,500 for cycling. Participants are encouraged to create or join teams through the Dempsey Challenge website (
http://dempseychallenge.org) to assist their fundraising efforts. Volunteer information and registration is available through the Challenge website.
“Cancer impacts one in three Americans, so we all have a stake in this fight,” said
Raul Villagran, director of sales and marketing for Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica. “We’re proud to have contributed to the success of this wonderful event as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests live and work, as well as those where our resorts are located.”
About the Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope & Healing
The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing was founded in March, 2008 by actor and Maine native Patrick Dempsey in response to his mother’ s multiple bouts with ovarian cancer. The Center provides free support, education and wellness services to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. For more information, visit
www.dempseycenter.org.
About Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica
Holiday Inn Resorts Aruba & Jamaica offer nearly 1,200 guestrooms and suites in two of the world’s most popular warm weather vacation destinations. Both properties appeal to travelers seeking the very best value for their vacation dollar, making them especially popular with families. Kids 12 and under eat and stay free at both properties, while the resorts’ signature KidSpree™ Vacation Club features a full menu of daily supervised activities so kids can have fun while parents relax. Child’s play, however, isn’t the only play at these resorts. Adults can enjoy fine dining amidst casually sophisticated settings, or take a chance at love (destination wedding and honeymoon packages are available). Gaming enthusiasts revel at the full-service Excelsior Casino at the Holiday Inn Resort Aruba, while an electronic casino graces the lobby of the Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay. For seniors ages 60 and over, the resorts’ GoldenSpree program offers exclusive privileges and amenities, including dance, cocktail and cooking classes, 10-20% discounts on dining and nearby attractions, fitness activities, arts and crafts and more. Fully equipped fitness centers and lighted tennis courts appeal to active travelers, while everyone enjoys spacious well-appointed guestrooms and suites, friendly and attentive service, oversized swimming pools, miles of pristine white-sand beach and more.
