Organizers of the Las Vegas Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk kicked off the fundraising season Tuesday with an announcement that reshapes the event's future: the annual walk now has a permanent new home at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a move driven by an expected crowd of more than 20,000 people. The kickoff event, held August 18 at the speedway, previewed the main fundraiser set for Sunday, October 11.
For more than two decades, the walk was held at Red Rock Resort in Summerlin, drawing between 10,000 and 20,000 participants each year, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Organizers said they needed a larger venue to accommodate the growing crowd, and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which routinely hosts major festivals and large-scale public events, was chosen as the walk's new long-term site, as reported by KSNV.
KSNV News 3's Chloe Koast emceed Tuesday's kickoff, sharing hosting duties with Steph McKenzie of 97.1 The Point. News 3 is a media sponsor of the fundraiser, and the station's coverage notes that the kickoff was designed to build momentum months ahead of the October walk. Koast, a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and meteorologist, frequently emcees local charity and health events across Southern Nevada, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.
Why an August Kickoff Matters for October Fundraising
The timing of Tuesday's event is not incidental. American Cancer Society fundraising data from 2026 shows that participants who register early in the season raise up to eight times more money for breast cancer research than those who sign up later, giving teams time to organize and reach donors before October, per the American Cancer Society. On October 11, registration at the Speedway Midway opens at 7 a.m., with the walk itself starting at 8:30 a.m.
This year's official honoree is Adriana Kasunic, a Las Vegas native, breast cancer survivor, and Vice President of People Operations at The Venetian. Kasunic, who also holds leadership roles with Global Gaming Women and Latinas in Power, was selected by the American Cancer Society as an advocate for early screening ahead of the 2026 walk.
A State Where Lower Diagnosis Rates Don't Mean Lower Risk
The push for early detection carries added weight in Nevada, where the numbers tell a troubling story. The state ranks second-lowest in the nation for female breast cancer incidence at 114.7 cases per 100,000 women, yet sixth-highest nationwide for breast cancer mortality at 21.7 deaths per 100,000 women, according to statistics released by the Nevada Cancer Coalition. Low screening rates often lead to delayed diagnoses, a gap the coalition says contributes directly to the state's higher death toll.
The state's 2026–2030 Nevada Cancer Control Plan estimates that roughly 17,500 Nevadans are diagnosed with cancer and 5,400 die from the disease every year, with the five-year strategy prioritizing health equity and expanded screening access in rural and underserved areas. Nationally, the picture is just as stark: Susan G. Komen projects that in 2026, about 321,910 U.S. women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, another 60,730 with non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ, and 42,140 women will die from the disease. Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women, though early, localized detection carries a five-year relative survival rate above 99 percent.
Where the Money Goes, and What's Next This Fall
Locally raised funds have a direct line to patient care. Seventy-nine percent of proceeds from the Las Vegas Making Strides walk fund American Cancer Society research grants, patient advocacy, and free support programs, including Reach to Recovery, which pairs newly diagnosed patients with trained survivor volunteers, and a 24/7 patient helpline.
The walk is one piece of a broader autumn awareness push in Southern Nevada. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will host its 16th annual Las Vegas Lights of Hope ceremony on September 9, using illuminated bags to honor survivors, memorialize those lost to cancer, and raise funds for advocacy work. Both events lead up to the October 11 walk at the Speedway Midway, where organizers hope this year's larger venue will match the scale of a cause that keeps growing across the valley.
