Long Island residents gathered at Jones Beach State Park on Sunday to participate in the Lustgarten Foundation’s walk for pancreatic cancer research.

The fundraiser was established by Marc Lustgarten and his Cablevision colleagues after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 1998. He died the following year.

The foundation has invested over $250 million in research to date. The goal for this year is to raise $800,000.

Pancreatic cancer survivor Jeneen Genna says fundraising events are an important part of fighting the disease.

“There are so many more survivors year after year because we are doing great work and great strides are being made to cure this disease. I'm participating in a clinical research trial for patients who had the bracketing mutation. And so, I just know how lucky I am to be alive and to be here,” she said.