50,000 to rally in Central Park for iconic Making Strides breast cancer awareness walk this month

Tens of thousands of breast cancer survivors, families and supporters will gather in Central Park on Oct. 18 for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk as the fundraiser returns for its 33rd year in New York.

The annual fundraiser is hosted by the American Cancer Society and features approximately 50,000 survivors every year as one of the largest Making Strides walks in the country. It brings the city together to raise money and honor those affected by breast cancer.

The event will be held at the Central Park Bandshell, between West 67th and Central Park West in Manhattan.

Kendall Padovani is one of the associate directors overseeing the Making Strides of Central Park walk who spoke about the importance of this year’s fundraiser.

“The Making Strides of Central Park event is the second-largest walk in the country. We have over 50,000 participants. It is truly a day to welcome our survivors and recognize those we have lost in the fight against breast cancer,” Padovani said.

There are many supporters who range from those in the community to various corporations based in New York.

“What makes our Central Park event different from other festivals and the Making Strides portfolio as a whole is that our walk takes place on a national monument. We bring the community side and the corporate side together for the purpose of a mission,” Padovani said. [caption id="attachment_137873580" align="alignnone" width="700"] The 2025 Making Strides breast cancer awareness walk.Photo courtesy American Cancer Society[/caption]

The walk raises a target of roughly $2 million annually, with over $600,000 raised this year so far.

“Here in New York, the money that is fundraised through the Making Strides Central Park walk goes to our grants, ACS-funded researchers and patient services for our ‘road to recovery’ which provides free rides to and from cancer-related medical appointments. Also, toward our ‘New York City hope lodge’ for cancer patients and their caregivers to stay while they’re getting treatment, located on West 32nd St which is one of 33 across the U.S.,” Padovani said.

The American Cancer Society is one of the largest breast cancer movements with over 150 walks across the country.

This year’s walk for the ACS Making Strides of Central Park includes partnerships such as its flagship sponsors NYC Health + Hospitals, Pfizer, Northwell Cancer Institute, Steve Madden and the Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity.

“We work really closely with many New York City hospital systems. We’re not doctors, so we bring in medical professionals that would be able to share the best screening information and resources,” Padovani said.

1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, according to Padovani.

She claims breast cancer survivors are the driving force that helps her want to make the event better than last year to show them that they’re not alone in the fight against cancer.

“One of the new things we’re going to be having in Central Park is a previvor tent where we’ll be able to share some educational resources on what a previvor is as it becomes more relevant in the world. We’re going to have an amazing DJ on set at the Bandshell playing music throughout the event. We’ll have a colorwall and many activities brought by our sponsors in the festival area,” Padovani said.

Padovani also claims that organizing the Making Strides New York festival is a year-long process. Once the event ends on Oct. 18, planning for 2027 begins immediately.

“What creates our emotional atmosphere is just seeing the amount of community that comes together which reveals the support from family and friends that rally behind that one person they’re walking for,” Padovani said.

The Making Strides of Central Park fundraiser walk will be held at the Bandshell, between West 67th and Central Park West in Manhattan, on Sunday, Oct. 18. The festival grounds open at 8 a.m. and will conclude at 12 p.m. noon.

“Cancer doesn't discriminate based on age, gender or where you come from," Padovani said. "It’s a level ground that brings a multitude of people together.”

For more information on the Making Strides of Central Park event, visit acsevents.org.