1 of 7 | ABC's Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts wins the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2013 ESPY Awards show at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 17, 2013. The 20th annual ESPY's honor the best in sports in the past year. UPI/Jim Ruymen |
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Roberts, 52, has battled both breast cancer and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a disease that required a bone marrow transplant.
During her inspirational acceptance speech Roberts thanked her sister Sally Ann -- her bone marrow donor -- her ESPN crew, her "dream-team" of doctors and health care providers, everyone who supported her throughout her sickness and LeBron "King" James for presenting her with the award.
"Those of us who are fortunate to have overcome some form of illness or adversity are told that we are strong. I didn't find that strength on my own," she said Wednesday. "It was the kind that grew with every kind word of support - every tweet, every email, every phone call. ... Through it all, I learned that strength, true strength, isn't when you face down life's challenges on your own, it's when you take them on by accepting the help, faith and love of others and knowing that you are lucky to have those."