Alex Munoz saw her years of gymnastics training fall aside when she was diagnosed with cancer as a junior in high school.
The former elite-level gymnast and third-year psychobiology student went from training daily to not having the strength to leave her bed.
“Every day was an uphill battle to get better,” said Munoz, now a four-year cancer survivor.
Munoz was one of several survivors who spoke at the 11th annual UCLA Relay for Life opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon. Relay for Life is a 24-hour fundraising event where teams walk or run to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Speakers at the opening ceremony talked about the support they received from their friends and family during their cancer treatment.
Munoz said she would never forget how her friends held her hand the first day she came back to high school after her initial round of treatment. She said they forced her to hold her head up and not hide in the bathroom at school.
“(They helped) me realize I was more beautiful than I had ever been,” Munoz added.
Each team registered with Relay for Life reached out to friends, family and acquaintances to fundraise for the event.
More than 120 teams will spend the next 24 hours at Drake Stadium walking around the track or participating in activities, such as a “Pie a Trojan” contest and a 2 a.m. “Silent Rave.”
Relay for Life will end Sunday at 2 p.m.
Compiled by Kendal Mitchell, Bruin contributor.