DRAFT Magazine

Flickr photo by Michael Heston

I hope the Beer Runner never gets mistaken for People magazine.

But dammit, I have to say something. I respect Patrick Dempsey.

The “Grey’s Anatomy” star first earned points with me when he gave an honest, non-celebrity-like interview with Bicycling magazine some time back.

Now he’s holding The Dempsey Challenge, a cycling ride to benefit the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing. The event takes place Oct. 4 in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine.

Even better, the ride has an official beer: Maine craft brewer Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company.

The Dempsey Challenge includes 10, 25, 50 and 100 mile cycling routes, plus a 5K run/walk and a Kids’ Fun Run.

The inaugural Dempsey Challenge will also feature professional cyclists George Hincapie, a five-time Olympian, and David Zabriskie, who holds the record for fastest time trial in Tour de France history.

For its part, Gritty’s will be naming a beer after the event, and in September will donate a buck from each of those beers sold to the Dempsey Challenge.

Gritty’s pubs have been named an Editor’s Pick by Condé Nast Traveler, highlighted as “a legend among New England brewpubs” by The Boston Globe, and named one of the best bars in America by Playboy.com.

This isn’t Gritty’s first foray into biking for a good cause, either. Their Gritty’s Bike Team raised more than $16,000 in the American Lung Association of Maine’s 2009 Trek Across Maine.

For info about deadlines, pre-event activities, and other assorted goodies of the Dempsey Challenge, visit here.

I also like to note that I almost got through this entire blog without using the phrase Dr. McDreamy. Almost.