Westchester Walk Raises $129K for Pancreatic Cancer Hope

Sharon Bond stood before 300 neighbors in Westchester and shared three words that once seemed impossible: six-year survivor. She beat pancreatic cancer, a disease so deadly that most patients never get to celebrate even one year.

The Dobbs Ferry resident joined nearly 300 community members at Westchester Community College for the 17th annual Lustgarten Foundation Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Together, they raised more than $129,000 in a single day, with every penny going directly to research.

"The reason I am standing here today is because of excellent medicine, and that starts with excellent research," Sharon told the crowd. Her journey included surgery to remove her pancreas, spleen, and 25 lymph nodes, followed by three months of chemotherapy under the care of Dr. Keyur Thakar at Northwell's Phelps Hospital.

The walk marks a milestone beyond the single-day fundraising. Over 17 years, this Westchester event alone has generated over $5.1 million for pancreatic cancer research, fueling the kind of scientific breakthroughs that saved Sharon's life.

Her survival represents progress that once seemed impossible. When the Lustgarten Foundation started in 1998, only 4% of pancreatic cancer patients survived five years. Today, that number has more than tripled to 13%.

Dr. Thakar, who oversaw Sharon's care, sees this progress in his practice every day. "Through relentless research and dedicated care, we are making progress," he said. "We're developing new treatments, improving diagnostic tools, and integrating innovative programs like lifestyle medicine to support our patients' full well-being."

The stakes remain urgent. Pancreatic cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. This year alone, approximately 2,930 New Yorkers will die from the disease, most diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

The Ripple Effect

Sharon's story reaches beyond her own survival. She lost both a sister and a close friend to pancreatic cancer during her own battle, making her advocacy deeply personal.

The research funded by walks like Westchester's doesn't just help future patients. It creates better diagnostic tools, more effective treatments, and new hope for families who once had none. Dr. Ramanathan Seshadri, a surgical oncologist with Northwell, emphasized how community support translates directly into improved outcomes for local patients.

The Westchester community's commitment shows in the numbers. Year after year, hundreds of walkers return, their collective impact growing stronger. Their fundraising pages will remain open throughout 2026 for anyone inspired to join the fight.

Sharon continues to thrive nearly six years after treatment, living proof that research saves lives.