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BBC's Inspiration Monica
Steward In the summer of 1994, I had an idea to launch a magazine called W.i.g.--for Women in General--that would address real issues concerning women between the ages of 17 and 35. Sports, art, music, and culture were the four elements that would make up the magazine. When it came to assigning the culture stories, I wanted first-person experiences that reflected real women's lives. I spoke with my art director, Dawn Kish, who suggested we contact Monica Steward from Bonfire Clothing about her struggles with breast cancer. With courage, Monica volunteered to write a story about her bouts with the disease called, "Both Feet on the Ground." It was prophetic, inspiring, and eye-opening not only for us at W.i.g. but for our readers as well. When W.i.g. reached newsstands that October, we were flooded with letters, phone calls, and faxes from young women and men who had read Monica's story and who had no idea that breast cancer attacks young women. When I told Monica the impression her story had made, we decided to take it to the next level, namely, to do something about the lack of awareness young people have about the disease. After several conversations with Monica and Lisa Hudson, then from Twist Clothing, we came up with the snowboard Lollapalooza concept and Monica came up with the title, "Boarding for Breast Cancer." As fall faded into winter, Monica became ill again. One memorable conversation--the last I had with her--was in November. She called to tell me the cancer was back and had spread to her liver. Yet despite her critical illness, she told me, "If there's anything you can do for me, it's to make sure this event happens, Kathleen. Make sure people know what this disease does and make a hell of a lot of money so that researchers will listen." Monica Steward passed away a month later, just three months before her inaugural Boarding for Breast Cancer event. The BBC is for Monica. The following story was first run in the inaugural issue of W.I.G. Magazine, October, 1994:
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