Patrick Dempsey may be best known for playing the hot heartthrob doctor Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy but he’s also trying to heal hearts off screen as well. Patrick stopped by Good Morning America on Wednesday, September 26 and opened up about how he’s trying to help other families dealing with cancer to honor his late mother, Amanda.

Amanda was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998 and passed away in 2014 after a long battle with the disease. In response to her death, the 52-year-old decided to open the Patrick Dempsey Center at the Central Maine Medical Center in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine. Every fall since 2008, he hosts the Dempsey Challenge where thousands of participants compete in biking, running and walking events to raise money to benefit families impacted by cancer.

“The spirit within the community and the goodness with everybody is really inspiring and it’s a great event,” the Made Of Honor actor explained. He also revealed that he and his family will be participating in the bike and walk events.

The Enchanted star is also an avid car racer and he talked to GMA about what his favorite part about driving is. “I think the mindfulness of it is really what I enjoy the most because you really have to focus on the here and the now…it’s the internal battle between one’s self that’s fascinating.”

Watch the clip above to hear what he had to say. What are your thoughts on Patrick’s mission? Drop them in the comments below!

The post Watch! Patrick Dempsey Opens Up About Late Mother’s Cancer Diagnosis On ‘GMA’ appeared first on OK! Magazine.