The Canberra's Longest Lunch event, which was organised by Asthma Foundation ACT, allowed local businesses to showcase their produce on the foreshore with revenue from ticket sales going towards prevention programs.

Asthma Foundation ACT chief executive Danielle Dal Cortivo said the name of the event would be pertinent with those who have experienced an asthma attack

"Sometimes when people are having an asthma attack it can feel like the longest moments in their life as they wait for that next breath," she said.

Ms Dal Cortivo said this was the first year the fundraising event had taken place and the foreshore community had been very supportive.

"We would have been happy to break even in our first year but we are expecting to raise about 13,000, which we are really impressed with," she said.

"I'm particularly proud of the traders who took a plunge and supported this for the first time."

Guests were served by hospitality students from Marist College Canberra who worked with staff from the Rum Bar, Max Brenner, Espresso Bar 38, two Thai restaurants and Walt and Burley.

Ms Dal Cortivo said asthma remained a high priority health issue with close to 35,000 Canberrans diagnosed.

"Improving education, training and self-management of asthma is key to reducing the number of asthma flare ups that require hospitalisation," she said.

"The funds we raise will enable us to expand our services, including education, training and a free telephone support line for people with asthma."

According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, close to 10 per cent of the country currently has asthma with prevalence highest in in people aged 75 and over.

During 2012-13, more than 37,500 people were admitted to hospital with asthma as a principal diagnosis and 394 died as a result of the condition