Olivia Munn Receives Courage Award at An Unforgettable Evening After Sharing Her Breast Cancer Battle
Olivia Munn received the Courage Award at An Unforgettable Evening, the Women’s Cancer Research Fund’s annual gala. The post Olivia Munn Receives Courage Award at An Unforgettable Evening After Sharing Her Breast Cancer Battle appeared first on Haute Living.
Photo Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Women’s Cancer Research Fund
The Women’s Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) hosted its 26th annual An Unforgettable Evening at The Beverly Hilton, gathering an influential crowd to support life saving breast cancer research, honoring actress Olivia Munn; past honorees have included a wide range of icons such as Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Kate Hudson, Gabrielle Union, Christina Applegate, Renée Zellweger, Natalie Cole, Courteney Cox, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Renette Ezralow, Tom Ford, Carolina Herrera, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Jennifer Hudson, Sir Elton John, Nicole Kidman, Judy and Leonard Lauder, Stella McCartney, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sofia Vergara.
Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Women’s Cancer Research Fund
Hosted by comedian and writer Whitney Cummings, the evening raised vital funds for the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) that was founded by Jamie Alexander Tisch, Kate Capshaw, Kelly Chapman Meyer, Quinn Ezralow, Rita Wilson, and the late Anne Douglas, Renette Ezralow, and Marion Laurie. For more than two decades, An Unforgettable Evening has been WCRF’s flagship fundraising gala, celebrating survivors, honoring those lost, and driving forward crucial cancer research. The event brings together leaders in entertainment, research, and philanthropy to raise funds for pioneering scientific initiatives across leading U.S. institutions.
Photo Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Women’s Cancer Research Fund
The highlight of the night was the presentation of the Courage Award to actress and activist Olivia Munn, who was honored for bravely sharing her ongoing battle with breast cancer and inspiring countless women to take charge of their health. Reflecting on her diagnosis, Munn said, “Courage in those first days after my breast cancer diagnosis meant letting myself be afraid, being afraid and walking into the void regardless, step by step. The first step I had to take was to walk out of the office and call my husband… As I struggled to say these words, John just said, ‘Come home.’”
Photo Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Women’s Cancer Research Fund
Since publicly sharing her story in March 2024, Munn has shed light on the Tyrer-Cuzick Breast Cancer Risk Assessment test, developed by BCRF researcher Dr. Jack Cuzick. “This one test led to my diagnosis of bilateral breast cancer, and it saved my life,” she shared.
Photo Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Women’s Cancer Research Fund
Munn’s emotional speech also paid tribute to her medical team, including her oncologist, surgical teams, and the fertility doctor who helped her welcome her daughter via surrogacy last September. Over the course of her journey, Munn has endured five surgeries, including a double mastectomy, lymph node dissection, and hysterectomy. “I don’t wish this journey on anyone; but if you have to face cancer, I pray you meet the kind of doctors that I did,” she said. “The nurses, the hospital administrators, everyone along the way here showed me kindness in those scary days.”
Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Women’s Cancer Research Fund
Adding to the evening’s moving moments, three-time Grammy Award-winning country group Little Big Town took the stage, performing some of their biggest hits including “Girl Crush,” “When Someone Stops Loving You,” “Better Man,” and “Boondocks.”
Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Women’s Cancer Research Fund
Notable guests included Amanda Kloots, Carly Steel, Chord Overstreet, Crystal Kung Minkoff, Guerdy Abraira, Joey Zauzig, John Mulaney, Jonathan Simkhai, Justin Sylvester, Katharine McPhee, Kathy Hilton, Kayla Ewell, Keni Silva, Kyle Richards, Lindsay Price, Lori Loughlin, Malin Akerman and Jack Donnelly, Max and Tess Greenfield, Michelle LaRue, Molly Sims, Nicky Hilton, Nicky Whelan, Nicole Eggert, Nikki Boyer, Rachel Zoe, Renan Pacheo, Teddi Mellencamp, Will Ropp, and many more.
The post Olivia Munn Receives Courage Award at An Unforgettable Evening After Sharing Her Breast Cancer Battle appeared first on Haute Living.
