In 2010 after many years apart, my high school sweetheart, Edison McCants, and I reunited and shortly thereafter married.  I was fully aware that he was living with cancer and had done so for more than 15 years.  Sadly, Edison passed away in December 2012.  While our time together was short, we packed in years of laughter, joy and excitement, much of which centered on our shared love of the art form of Chicago Style Steppin’.

Edison found a passion in learning the dance, and it also helped distract on those days when the pain was nearly unbearable.  There are no words to describe the ache in my heart having lost Edison so quickly after reuniting, but I have chosen to turn my pain into purpose.

Utilizing my professional talents and skills, the desire to give back to my community, and my social joys and friendships, I invest my all into this cause. My heart and humility grow stronger each day knowing my efforts will support families who find themselves in a similar position of caring for a loved one with cancer.  All event proceeds are used to support cancer-specific initiatives provided by Aurora at Home.

With the support of Stepping with the Stars Alumni, event attendees and the co-founder of Milwaukee Steppers and Ballroomers United, Cynthia Wilson, who Edison affectionately referred to as wife 1.5, I was able to create the Edison McCants Comfort Fund.  Through the fund, not only does Edison’s memory live on, but countless other patients and families benefit from things Edison and I learned and enjoyed as we fought together for his health and well-being.

Cynthia Wilson is the Founder of Milwaukee Steppers and Ballroomers United. More than 20 years ago, she and a group of friends got together to brainstorm how they could enhance the social scene and experiences for mature adults in our community. What started out as hosting parties that catered to those that had a mutual love for dancing, be it bopping, stepping, line dancing or Detroit Style ballroom has evolved into a charitable organization with a strong social consciousness.

Stepping with the Stars is one of the many charitable events that was born as a result of the intersects, dancing and giving back to the community that we work, live, and play in daily. Cynthia was by Alicia and Edison’s side during his cancer journey and had her own firsthand experience having to care for her father, Horthy Viverette, Sr. during his journey.

The group concept was created during a meeting in a basement, MSBU Productions is still going strong in practice creating and promoting high-caliber events, teaching stepping and ballroom lessons, and raising dollars with each endeavor to support the Terrell Andre’ Viverette Forever Young Scholarship Fund, The Edison McCants Comfort Fund, and the Margaret Bedford and Peter Robinson Memorial Nutcracker Jam Toy Drive to name a few.