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CANCER SUPPORT
Race for
the Cure
T H E S U S A N
G . K O M E N
F O U N D A T I O N
H E L P E D O N E
O F I T S B I G G E S T
S U P P O R T E R S
I N T H E R A C E
A G A I N S T
B R E A S T C A N C E R
Every year up to 75 percent of the funds raised at Race
for the Cure are given to agencies like Panhandle
Health District to help fund breast cancer screenings
like the one that helped Lynnette Schaller.
By Andrea Kalas-Nagel
EVERY YEAR, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHER
at the North Idaho College campus to participate in the
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K fun run. Profits
from races like this across the country are used to benefit
cancer research and to help communities nationwide
offer free mammograms and other services to women.
Lynnette Schaller has been a longtime supporter of the
Susan G. Komen foundation. She was the most successful
individual fundraiser in 2010—and as of this year, she
is also a beneficiary.
“It was something very close to my heart,” she said.
“I wanted to get out there and do something. I really
believe in their work, and I wanted to make a difference.”
S H E ’ S C O M E T O T H E R I G H T P L A C E
Now a Spirit Lake resident, Schaller is originally from
NewYork City, where she worked as a colorist for Bruno
Le Salon for over 13 years. In 1986 she made the long
trek to the west coast to live in San Francisco, where
she opened her own jewelry business, Jest Jewels. She
moved to northern Idaho five years ago to take care of
her parents—a move she is grateful for.
“Shortly after I moved up here, my mother was diag-
nosed with breast cancer,” she said. “I’m really glad I
could be there for her during that time.”
In January of this year, Schaller noticed a lump in one
of her breasts. Because her insurance hadn’t kicked in
yet, she visited the Dirne Clinic to have it examined. Sure
enough, the physicians at Dirne said the lump needed
immediate attention and ordered a biopsy and mam-
mogram at Kootenai Outpatient Imaging the next day.
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