Fall is approaching, and with it comes National breast cancer awareness month in October and National Pancreatic cancer awareness month in November. These fall months remind us of the great friends, family members, or coworkers that are fighting or have lost 
the fight to these awful illnesses. As groups and participants collectively assemble across the starting line, the faces of those lost illuminate the shirts of participants. The quotes and the memories that everyone shares-- instantly pummels one’s heart and leaves it unrecognizable.
Both the pancreatic cancer walk and the breast cancer walk will be held at Jones Beach in October. The pancreatic cancer walk is scheduled for Sunday, October 14th. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the walk will commence at 9:30 a.m. The Lustgarten Foundation holds the event each year, and with each coming event they hope to raise more money to fund more research. As said on the event page, “ Lustgarten Foundation Events serve as a wonderful celebration of the progress being made in the fight against this disease, and your important participation provides hope for the future.” Last year, the Lustgarten Foundation’s walk brought out more than 6,000 Long Island participants, which is the most participants in History. In 2011 there was a total of 32 walks across the country, and from all of them, a grand total of $3,341,455 was raised to support the cause. And the cause is a worth walking for, according to a recent study conducted by The American Cancer Society, only 23% of those diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer will survive past one year of being diagnosed. And 4% of those diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer will live past the five-year survival rate. These low percentages illustrate the need for fundraising. With more participants comes more hope.
The Annual Breast Cancer walk will take place Sunday, October 21st at 8:00 a.m., also located at Jones Beach. Last year, the walk raised $2.9 million dollars and was said by Newsday, to be “their largest ever--with the most participants in the country.” In a study released in August of 2012, by The American Cancer Society, there are now 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United states alone. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect women. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during the course of their lives, and an estimated 39,510 women will die.
The annual Pancreatic Cancer walk and Breast cancer walk are always looking for new support and participants. These Long Island annual walks can be a household tradition. With one step forward, you can make a difference. For additional information on the Annual Pancreatic Cancer walk, visit the Lustgarten foundation. To learn more about the Annual Breast Cancer walk, visit the American Cancer Society’s event page. For both events, you can sign up your group or yourself online, or you can register earlier before the walk commences.
