Pink Out games and tributes have evolved over the years. In 2026, the Hillsboro R-3 School District expanded the tradition by dedicating the evening to honoring local breast cancer survivors with ties to the school district and community.
Eleven women and their families were recognized before the Friday, February 13th game. They were introduced on the court and celebrated again during a special video tribute at halftime.
Several of the honorees are Hillsboro R-3 employees who are either currently in treatment or cancer-free. Many have become passionate advocates for early detection and routine screenings.
One of those women is teacher Margie Colton, who rang the bell in September 2025 to mark the end of her treatment.
“I found a lump and went to my general practitioner,” Colton shared. “I got tested, and on May 17th, 2024, they called and told me I had breast cancer. We were supposed to go to a Cardinals baseball game that night, so we went. It felt like everything came crashing down. It was like, ‘Oh my God.’ Then we processed it for a little while, and it became, ‘Okay, what do we do now?’ We live. We live in the now. We don’t wait. I am very grateful for things.”
Throughout treatment, Colton says her husband became an essential part of her care team. He quickly learned how to properly apply ice packs during chemotherapy to help prevent neuropathy (a side effect that can occur when chemotherapy drugs reach nerve tissue in the hands and feet). The cold helps constrict blood vessels and reduce the amount of medication reaching those areas.
“My husband became a pro at distributing ice packs,” Colton said. “He even started showing nurses how to properly do it. Now we’re helping my friend, (Hillsboro Junior High School Teacher) Kristine Gronberg, so she can comfortably get through treatments. She’s also used my head scarves.”
The message shared throughout the evening was simple and powerful:
Ladies get checked. Go get screened regularly. Don’t wait.
Watch the video below and stay through the halftime tribute from the De Soto vs. Hillsboro basketball game to see how our community came together to honor strength, resilience, and hope.