A sea of pink filled the bleachers of San Marin’s Hank Moroski Gymnasium on Friday, Jan. 24, packing over 650 spectators for a special inaugural event: the Melissa Boyle Recognition Night. Boyle, the game’s namesake, is a 1996 San Marin graduate who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. The ceremony sharing Boyle’s story took place before the girls varsity basketball game against Archie Williams.
Boyle has had cancer twice, first as stage 2 breast cancer that returned a few years later where it spread to her bones and liver. An infection from surgery led to an amputation of her left leg.
“I first got diagnosed in 2019 and my daughter was only nine months old… And for it to come back [in 2022] when my twin boys were only three months old, that was a hard blow,” Boyle said.
Last November, Boyle was inducted into the Marin Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame for her athletic achievements as a Mustang. She helped the softball team win three consecutive Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) titles, played on the tennis team for three years, and maintained an 11-3 record her senior year on the varsity basketball team, earning herself MCAL Player of the Year. In addition to her sports successes, Boyle was an involved member of the student body as senior class president and a member of the Pony Express.
Boyle’s prominence on campus left a lasting impression on many individuals, as seen by the event’s turnout. Boyle cherishes the San Marin community and feels grateful for the solidarity that they have shown.
“This is the best place to grow up…This community is really special and I think we see it every time something happens to one of the students and everyone rallies, even as an adult,” Boyle said.
Spectators showed support for her battle against breast cancer by dressing in pink, a color synonymous with breast cancer, with the venue selling pink shirts at the game. Members of both San Marin and Archie Williams’ girls basketball teams wore the shirts for warmups. Boyle chose proceeds to go to Camp Okizu, a non-profit organization that creates programs for children facing cancer.
The participation from the crowd highlights the sense of unity that characterizes the San Marin that Boyle remembers from her youth.
“You look around at this community and you feel so much love, and the pink brings everyone—men, women, everyone—united tonight. I am the luckiest person. I am very fortunate,” Boyle said.
