Long Island Will Host Cancer Walk October 4

The 26th annual Lustgarten Foundation event at Jones Beach aims to raise $1 million for pancreatic cancer research.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Cancer

Bold vector editorial illustration of windswept beach grass on sand dunes, symbolizing a coastal community fundraiser. — The Lustgarten Foundation will host the 26th annual Long Island Walk on October 4, 2026, at Jones Beach to fund cancer research. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe medical research is making significant progress in improving survival rates for pancreatic cancer?

The 26th Annual Long Island Walk will take place on October 4, 2026, at Jones Beach State Park. The Lustgarten Foundation event expects 3,000 participants to raise $1 million for pancreatic cancer research.

Why it matters

Pancreatic cancer remains a significant health challenge with a five-year survival rate of just 13%. Fundraisers provide critical capital for active clinical trials seeking to improve patient outcomes.

The American Cancer Society projects over 67,000 new diagnoses and 52,000 deaths by the end of 2026. The FDA recently approved daraxonrasib, which showed a patient survival time of 13.2 months in clinical studies.

The players

Lynn Cetin

A medical professional based in Lake Success who actively organizes fundraising initiatives for the Lustgarten Foundation.

Lustgarten Foundation

A nonprofit organization headquartered in Uniondale that funds pancreatic cancer research and clinical trials.

American Cancer Society

A national health organization that provides statistical projections and data regarding cancer diagnosis and mortality rates.

The details

Lynn Cetin, whose father died of the disease in 1986, is supporting the foundation by selling baked goods at her Lake Success medical office. The foundation currently supports 15 active clinical trials to address KRAS mutations, which drive growth in over 90% of cases.

Avedis Cetin died of pancreatic cancer in 1986.
Cetin's friend's father passed away following a diagnosis in 2017.
The FDA granted approval for the drug daraxonrasib in August 2026.
The 26th Annual Long Island Walk will occur on October 4, 2026.
Projected national pancreatic cancer figures will be finalized by the end of 2026.

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The Big Picture

This event follows the pattern set by the 26th Annual Long Island Walk to maintain consistent public support for oncology research. It marks a continuation of the foundation's multi-year strategy to combat the 13% five-year survival rate associated with the disease.

The development of new treatments like daraxonrasib offers new options for patients affected by KRAS mutations. Increased funding from community events directly supports the clinical trials necessary to expand these treatment pathways.

The takeaway

Advocacy and fundraising remain essential to sustaining research for diseases with low survival rates. Residents looking to participate in future initiatives can track the clinical trial progress funded by the Lustgarten Foundation.