The female body has been a constant source of criticism, debate, and overall objectification for many years, but two women started a movement to make a woman’s body a medium for creative expression that can save lives.

On my 20th birthday, my best friend gave me a bracelet that said “I <3 Boobies.”

I proudly wore the slightly risqué yet hilarious bracelet made by Shaney Jo Darden and Mona Mukherjea- Gehrig, the wonderful women who in 2000 founded Keep-A-Breast (KAB), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

Started in 2000 by the two fashion design, photography, and production guru’s, KAB strives “to help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to the methods of prevention, early detection, and support.”

The duo combined their powers to turn art into an outlet for expression about the feelings involved with breast cancer while raising money to help defeat it. In doing so, they created the top global youth breast cancer foundation.

KAB began by inviting top artists to transform casts of female torsos into beautifully painted pieces of art. The plaster casts are auctioned, off and the proceeds go towards programs that advocate awareness of the disease. They have sold the casts of some highly admired females such as Pink, Maya Ford of The Donna’s, and L.A. INK artist Kat Von D.

“The Keep A Breast Foundation is so effective at educating young people about breast cancer and early detection that I wanted to do what I could to help the cause and help out my generation,” said Von D.

The exhibits enabled them to get the word out to the youth about breast cancer awareness but they felt they were only completing part of their mission. In 2004 they decided to expand in order to promote prevention and education about the disease.

Their campaigns now include Breast Friends Community Outreach, which allows supporters the chance to plan and host their own art exhibition and distribute proceeds to local cancer organizations and the This is My Story program which enables those impacted by breast cancer to share their feelings and experiences via videos and written testimonials that are posted on the KAB website, MySpace and YouTube.

They have also delved into the musical world starting two very influential programs. KAB spreads its message by setting up its Grass Traveling Education Booth at most major concert tours, sporting games, and fashion events all over the globe where they pass out information, display casts, and engage youth with interactive activities.

They also started to use music itself as an outlet by creating Music for Awareness which provides bands and musical artists with the opportunity to throw benefit concerts to raise money for breast cancer foundations. The program is meant to “acknowledge and enable the fact that young people do want to be activists, to play a part of a bigger and better good.” Musicians including Chiodos, Meg and Dia, Jack’s Mannequin, Foo Fighters, and Gym Class Heroes have already joined the initiative.

According to the American Cancer Society 1 in 8 women diagnosed with breast cancer will die from the disease, but KAB has equipped our generation with the capability to alter that statistic and help win the fight.