Clockwise from top left: VP Molly Schissler, Luann Burdick, Senior Mortgage Loan Processor Sheree Heuer, Mortgage Loan Originator Stephanie Glowinski-Moeller and son Gavin, and Product Analyst D.J. Bluma were part of the North Shore Bank team in the RiverWalk for Breast Cancer on May 5.

On May 5, a team organized by Credit Sales Representative Melissa Windle participated in Waukesha’s RiverWalk for Breast Cancer at Frame Park. The walk is held annually by ProHealth Care in Oconomowoc, Mukwonago and Waukesha. Twelve North Shore Bank employees, along with family members, did the RiverWalk and raised more than $200 in donations to fight breast cancer. Melissa writes:

About one out of eight invasive breast cancers are found in women younger than 45, while about two out of three are found in women 55 or older. I didn’t know that until my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was just 39. At that time, no one in our family had ever been diagnosed with breast cancer. She was complaining about a pain in her breast, which doctors say is unusual — breast cancer isn’t usually felt. She got a mammogram, which led to a biopsy, which confirmed it was cancer. Because the cancer had not metastasized (spread), the doctors performed a lumpectomy. It was successful, but my mother had to take medication daily (until it caused her to break out in a horrible rash), and then had to return for repeat mammograms first every three months, and then every six months. Now she has them yearly.

She has been cancer-free for 13 years. Later, my great-grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her late 80s and had her whole breast removed.

Because my mom had cancer before age 40, my doctor suggested I undergo genetic testing to see if I carried a cancer gene, and that I start receiving mammograms at 25 years old. So far, I’ve been cancer-free. I want to keep it that way, so I donate money and time to breast cancer foundations, in the hope that they’ll find ways to detect breast cancer earlier — or better yet, find a cure.

Members of our RiverWalk team were:

• Product Analyst D.J. Bluma
• Silver Spring Drive SB Latia Clifton
• Silver Spring Drive CSR Robyn Drayton
• Mortgage Loan Originator Stephanie Glowinski-Moeller and son Gavin
• Loan Operations Supervisor Missy Hayburn
• Senior Mortgage Loan Processor Sheree Heuer and mom Luann Burdick
• Imaging Team Leader Kristin Hoch
• Executive Assistant Lynn Jack
• Muskego BOC Sabrina Mitchell
• Customer Support Rep Janet Russell
• Vice President Molly Schissler
• Credit Sales Representative Melissa Windle and son Jared

Melissa says: “It would be great to see more people from North Shore Bank to participate in years to come.”