MIAMI -- When Mayra Ordiales was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in October 2014, she did what came naturally. She kept moving forward, battling the disease and pursuing her passion to teach.
The courage the second-grade teacher is displaying is the reason she will be the Honorary Bat Girl on Sunday when the Marlins host the Phillies at Marlins Park.
Major League Baseball on Monday announced the winners of the 2016 Honorary Bat Girl contest, with all 30 big league clubs being represented.
• MLB unveils Honorary Bat Girl winners
Each Mother's Day, MLB becomes a platform to raise breast cancer awareness. All 30 Honorary Bat Girls are sharing their inspirational stories.
The players, too, are doing their part to raise awareness. A number of them will use pink bats and sport pink cleats and wristbands.
Ordiales has met each phase of her treatment with great strength and courage.
According to her family, she is an avid sports fans, especially the Marlins. Her son played baseball from youth leagues through high school, and she follows her nephew's college baseball team on the Internet.
Because of the strength she has shown, her family's new motto is: "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."