Profiles in Giving - Individual Poland HS and community donate in memory of Betty Brewster  Whether he was cramming for mid-terms, shooting jump shots or swinging for the fences, Betty Brewster was there for her son, Matt, a 17-year-old student at Poland High School. After years of being cancer-free, Betty succumbed to her second bout with lung cancer in February. "She was always there for me whenever I needed her," said Matt, her only child. "She was amazing." After serving as the primary caregiver for her sister, who also had cancer, Betty began her personal battle in 2001. The upper lobe of her right lung was removed and she faced the disease head-on, staying active and doing her best to wear out the school's track. The cancer returned in the fall of 2009 and Betty remained focused, promising herself and her family that she would not give up the fight. She kept Matt focused on his schoolwork and cheered as if all members of the Knights baseball and basketball teams were her own. "She loved being around family and friends and watching games. She would help anyone in any way she could," said Matt. The community of Poland rallied to make a contribution in Betty's memory. Proceeds from the school's Wall of Hope, filled with cards purchased for a dollar, and a Knights basketball game totaled $515. Matt presented the check to Operation Inspiration, a program within The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center that provides support, education and wellness services at no cost to lung cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. "My mom would want me to do something good for people," said Matt. "I know what it's like for someone to have cancer." Martel Elementary 'Steps' for the Dempsey Center As part of the 2009 International CyberFair Project theme "Unite and Share," Darlene Letourneau's third grade class at Martel Elementary School decided to recognize individuals and organizations that devote time and money to improving the lives of people of Lewiston. The class challenged all Martel students to walk 10,000 steps per week and collect donations in memory of Martel staff members who have succumbed to cancer. Through the event, the Martel community raised $872.45 for the Dempsey Center and honored the memories of Ms. Liza Beckwith, Ms. Judith Fairweather, Mrs. Sonya Charest, Mrs. Denise Dube, Mrs. Francoise Campbell, and Mr. Kenneth Jones. Quilts for CLIMB New Dempsey Center volunteer Dee Roberge donated various quilts for young graduates of the Center's CLIMB (Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery) program. CLIMB is a six-week program designed by the Children's Treehouse Foundation for children ages 5-11 with a parent or grandparent diagnosed with cancer. The new program will be offered quarterly through the Center and Roberge has offered to provide support and instruction to members of the Center's sewing group who are willing to assist in creating the quilts. Generous donation warms cancer patients Karen Condon of Bowdoinham recently asked the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing for assistance in distributing her hand-tied fleece blankets to area cancer patients. Condon's initial donation of 100 soft, warm blankets has been a huge hit with patients throughout the region. The Dempsey Center Sewing Group, which Condon is now a part of, will continue to help restock the supply. Oxford Hills student raises over $200 for Dempsey Center Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School senior Amanda Farr recently donated $213.65 to the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center. In honor of her grandfather, who is being treated for pancreatic cancer, Farr chose to do her senior project on cancer patients and their families. To raise funds, Farr, her friend Shikara and other OHCHS students, sold baked goods and colored ribbon pins. N.H. softball team donates over $5,000 to Dempsey Center The Litchfield, New Hampshire Girl’s Softball League recently raised over $5,000 through a walk-a-thon, and donated the entire amount to the Dempsey Center’s Children & Family Services Fund. The girls, who range in age from 4 to 13 years old, walked for a combined continuous 24 hours, some of them walking for as long as 16 hours apiece, and collected donations from their families and neighbors. The donation will support The Kid’s Comfort Pack Project that the Center is launching this fall.