16th Annual Lustgarten Foundation NYC Walk Raises Funds for Pancreatic Cancer Research

The annual event in Battery Park City brings together doctors, scientists, patients, and supporters to advance treatments and find a cure.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:21pm

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray image of the human pancreas, revealing its complex internal structure in shades of white and grey against a dark background, symbolizing the challenges of pancreatic cancer research.An X-ray view of the human pancreas highlights the organ's hidden intricacies, reflecting the ongoing medical research to better understand and treat pancreatic cancer.NYC Today

The 16th Annual Lustgarten Foundation New York City Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research was held on Sunday in Battery Park City. The event, emceed by CBS News New York's Jenna DeAngelis, celebrated the power of community and raised critical funds for pancreatic cancer research. Survivors, supporters, and medical experts shared inspiring stories of progress, with the survival rate nearly doubling in recent years thanks to new treatments and clinical trials supported by the Lustgarten Foundation.

Why it matters

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of the disease, with a historically low survival rate. However, advancements in research and treatment are offering new hope, and events like the Lustgarten Foundation walk play a vital role in driving progress by funding cutting-edge studies and clinical trials.

The details

The annual walk has raised nearly $4.5 million over the past 16 years for the Lustgarten Foundation, a leading nonprofit dedicated to pancreatic cancer research. Participants included pancreatic cancer survivors like Edward Blackburn, a 9/11 first responder who credits the foundation's funded trials with saving his life, as well as newly diagnosed patients like 23-year-old Lily Green, who spoke of the importance of maintaining hope. Medical experts like Dr. Elliot Newman, chief of surgical oncology at Northwell Health, emphasized that the future is 'unlimited' as long as people continue to come together to support research efforts.

  • The 16th Annual Lustgarten Foundation New York City Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research was held on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Jenna DeAngelis

A CBS News New York reporter who served as the emcee for the 16th annual Lustgarten Foundation walk.

Edward Blackburn

A pancreatic cancer survivor and 9/11 first responder who credits clinical trials funded by the Lustgarten Foundation with saving his life.

Lily Green

A 23-year-old pancreatic cancer patient who spoke about the importance of maintaining hope in the face of the disease.

Linda Tantawi

The CEO of the Lustgarten Foundation, which has been a driving force in advancements in pancreatic cancer research.

Dr. Elliot Newman

The chief of surgical oncology at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Lenox Hill Hospital, who expressed optimism about the future of pancreatic cancer treatment.

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What they’re saying

“When I was diagnosed, the survival rate was less than 7%. Right now, it's up to 13.8%. So in that short period of time, it almost doubled, and that's phenomenal.”

— Edward Blackburn, Pancreatic cancer survivor

“The message is that there's always hope and ... there's always new things coming.”

— Lily Green, Pancreatic cancer patient

“We really have better therapies now for patients so they will survive longer, and that is what we are pushing towards.”

— Linda Tantawi, CEO, Lustgarten Foundation

“Without research, there's no clinical trials. Without clinical trials, there's no new advancements in cancer medications and cancer treatments, and that's what we need because that's what saved my life.”

— Edward Blackburn, Pancreatic cancer survivor

“The future is just unlimited when people get together ... and I'm very optimistic about the future.”

— Dr. Elliot Newman, Chief of Surgical Oncology, Northwell Health Cancer Institute

What’s next

The Lustgarten Foundation will continue to fund cutting-edge pancreatic cancer research and clinical trials, with the goal of further improving survival rates and finding a cure. Donations can be made at hope.lustgarten.org/event/newyorkcity/search-for-a-fundraiser.

The takeaway

The 16th annual Lustgarten Foundation walk in New York City demonstrated the power of community, medical innovation, and perseverance in the fight against pancreatic cancer. While the disease remains deadly, the event highlighted the significant progress being made, thanks to the tireless efforts of survivors, supporters, and the research community.