Marie (in cap and sash near left end of back row) and Karla (seated in sash in front row) and other team members at the walk at Henry Maier Festival Park.

Southridge assistant branch manager Marie Cruz, business relationship manager Karla Lozano, and other members of the North Shore Bank Goes Pink team came out for the Making Strides of Milwaukee walk last Saturday, October 9, raising funds to help the American Cancer Society fight breast cancer.

Marie at the race.

Both employees are breast cancer survivors. “Karla organized the event and shared it on Facebook,” Marie said. “I had never done the walk before, but was motivated by my own fight with cancer.”

Eight members of the team were Marie’s friends and family members.

“It was hard for me to get up on Saturday — I was so tired,” she said. “My plan was to get there by 9 a.m. and I didn’t arrive until almost 9:30. My cousin called and asked where I was — they said, ‘We are all here to support you!’”

That made a difference for Marie. “During the walk, I felt so empowered, motivated, and happy that I had my family and friends there to support me,” she said. “I was no longer tired — this overwhelming strength overcame me on the walk. It was amazing; I felt so good. Once I got to the finish line, I did cry. But it was a happy cry.”

She added, “I was so proud of myself, because I didn’t know if I was going to make it. But it was such a great event. I plan to attend every year now.”

The North Shore Bank Goes Pink team collected $1,527 for the ACS, smashing its $500 goal and ranking eighth out of 110 teams for donations. Many thanks to all the employees who took part in the “Wear Pink” dress-down day on October 1, which kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raised $960 for the walkers.