10-19-2025 8:27pm

Jones Beach Turns Pink for Nation’s Largest Breast Cancer Walk

Samantha Hespos Editor

The Atlantic breeze carried a wave of pink across Jones Beach State Park on Sunday morning, as tens of thousands of Long Islanders gathered in solidarity for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk — now the largest event of its kind anywhere in the United States.

By sunrise, parking fields were already full of walkers in pink shirts, hats, tutus, and feather boas. Survivors, caregivers, families, and supporters all came together with a single purpose: to honor those lost, celebrate those still fighting, and raise funds for research and patient support.

A Sea of Strength and Survivors

For three miles along the boardwalk, the scene was one of color, emotion, and resilience. Participants hugged strangers, carried photos of loved ones, and held signs that read “Hope Lives Here” and “Fighting for the Future.”

Among them was 46-year-old Jennifer Russo of Farmingdale, walking for the first time since completing chemotherapy last winter. “A year ago, I couldn’t walk a block without help,” she said, pausing to catch her breath. “Now I’m walking for every woman who needs to know she’s not alone.”

Her words echoed the spirit of the day. Each step on the boardwalk represented a story — a struggle, a survival, or a tribute to someone taken too soon.

Community Power at Its Best

Organized by the American Cancer Society, the Jones Beach walk has grown into a signature Long Island tradition, drawing participants from all over the state. This year’s turnout, estimated at more than 80,000 people, reflected both the community’s generosity and its determination to keep awareness alive.

Local schools, fire departments, and small businesses fielded their own teams, often walking under banners displaying their hometowns. Donations collected before and during the event are expected to exceed $2 million, funds that will go directly toward cancer research, early detection programs, and transportation assistance for patients in treatment.

“This is what hope looks like,” said ACS event director Karen Fields. “It’s families, neighbors, and survivors standing together in one place, believing in a cure — not someday, but soon.”

Pink from Shore to Sky

The transformation of Jones Beach was impossible to miss. The iconic water tower glowed pink at dawn, the stage was draped in pink ribbons, and even some of the food trucks joined in the theme. Volunteers handed out water bottles and encouragement in equal measure as walkers passed through cheering zones lined with balloons and music.

For many, the event has become a yearly ritual — a mix of remembrance and renewal. “We’ve been walking for ten years,” said the Rodriguez family of Hicksville, whose matriarch, Maria, is a 15-year survivor. “Every year it feels like coming home.”

Why It Matters

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the United States, affecting one in eight women during their lifetime. But thanks to early detection and better treatment, survival rates continue to improve — a victory advocates say is powered in large part by events like this.

Still, the fight isn’t over. The funds raised at Jones Beach will help provide free mammograms, support services, and transportation for patients undergoing treatment on Long Island.

A Day of Hope and Healing

As the last of the walkers made their way off the boardwalk and the crowd began to thin, the feeling that lingered wasn’t exhaustion — it was pride.

“Every year, this walk reminds me that hope is contagious,” said Fields. “You see it in every hug, every tear, every step. That’s what keeps us going.”

And as the ocean sparkled in the October sunlight, one truth stood out as brightly as all the pink: Long Island’s fight against breast cancer is as strong — and united — as ever.