Smithtown Resident Joins The Lustgarten Foundation and Nearly 8,000 Tri-State Area Residents in the Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk

Smithtown resident Stephanie Mastrorocco will honor her mother by joining nearly 8,000 tri-state area residents at The Lustgarten Foundation’s 14th annual Long Island Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk. The walk will be held on Sunday, October 12, at Jones Beach.

The Lustgarten Foundation is the nation’s largest private foundation dedicated to funding pancreatic cancer research. Due to Cablevision’s support of the Foundation, 100 percent of every dollar that Stephanie and her fellow walkers raise will go directly to pancreatic cancer research.

Stephanie knows more than most about pancreatic cancer, the nation’s most lethal cancer. She is a longtime pharmaceutical representative specializing in this disease so Stephanie is well aware of its grim statistics. However, in June 2012 the disease became deeply personal when her mother, Rita Macchia, was suddenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It was discovered after she went to the emergency room suffering from severe stomach pain. Despite this shocking news, Stephanie looked for a way to fight back against this disease and for the first time registered her family and friends for the walk as Team “God’s Workers” to support her mother’s survival. Sadly, Rita passed away in March 2013. However, Stephanie and her family and friends will join the walk again this year still determined to help make a difference.

Stephanie believes that participating in the walk is an uplifting way to honor her mother’s memory. And for Stephanie, it is also fulfilling to know that 100 percent of all money she raises goes directly to pancreatic cancer research.

“It is because of exceptionally dedicated individuals like Stephanie that we’re able to raise much-needed awareness of pancreatic cancer and to raise funds that will go directly toward advancing important research aimed at developing an early detection test, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure,” said Lustgarten Foundation Executive Director Kerri Kaplan.

The Lustgarten Foundation’s Long Island Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk at Jones Beach will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 12, with registration starting at 8:00 a.m. For more information about the walk or to register, please visit www.curePC.org.