Mark Boyle is a study in contrasts. How else can you describe a 32-year-old conservatively dressed former Navy man going about his business on campus in shockingly pink hair for a cause as serious as breast cancer research?

Boyle, who works as an analyst in University Computing Services (UCS) and supports the technology needs for the Office of the President as well as Business Affairs, chose to live with pink hair for two weeks as both a reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as a fund-raiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

"If walking around with pink hair for a couple of weeks creates awareness, I have no problem doing this," Boyle said. "It's an easy decision. I'm a performer, so I'm not that easily embarrassed."

Boyle, who in addition to his full-time position in UCS is a masters student in choral conducting and assistant director of chamber choir, began his adventure in the land of cotton candy-colored hair when he commented on a UCS student intern's pink dye job. Boyle quipped that he, too, would dye his hair pink if the intern would give him $500.

Fawn Gary, Boyle's supervisor, overheard the comment and asked Boyle if he was willing to dye his hair pink for two weeks for charity. Wondering what he had to lose, Boyle agreed.

"Mark is always willing to do crazy things, and so when I heard he was willing to dye his hair, I knew he would go through with it if it was for charity," Gary said. "I suggested breast cancer research because my sister-in-law is currently going through chemotherapy for breast cancer so it's very close to me. Additionally, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the pink hair would be a perfect match."

Within hours, Gary had raised the $500 and more. And by the end of the day, Boyle was e-mailing his campus clients explaining that when he returned to work on Monday his appearance would be somewhat altered.

Gary commented that when Mark came back to work after his weekend makeover, people in the department were eager to get a peek at his new look.

"People mostly chuckled," she said, "but they also admired Mark for his commitment to follow through on his promise."

Boyle's altered appearance has affected his life beyond campus as well. Wife, Jane, a music teacher at Eastside Middle School in Anderson, and son, Nathan, 3, have taken the change in stride. Nathan, in fact, would like to dye his own hair a complementary blue. There have been a few missteps. Trips to the grocery draw stares, for example, and a recent interview for a church choir director's position could have proven problematic.

"Before the interview I talked to the hiring committee, and as it turns out there is someone in the choir who is battling cancer, so they were very understanding about it," Boyle said.

On campus, Boyle says his clients and others have also been very supportive.

"People have been terrific about the whole thing. It was for such a great cause," he said.

Don Park, vice president for university advancement, said that when Boyle first told him of the pink-hair challenge, he wondered why he would take it on. But after talking with him about it, he understood Boyle's reasons for doing so.

"He is passionate about the cause and sincere in his support of a cure for cancer," Park said.

That passion comes through in Boyle's attempts to channel the attention he receives into awareness of the importance of self-exams and the need to support breast cancer research.

"It's not about me at all. It's just that my personality allows me to do this," he said. "It's about awareness, it's about people knowing there are resources out there. If you go to the Komen Foundation Web page, there are fantastic resources on not only how to treat breast cancer but on how to prevent it."

Supporting the Komen Foundation is worth the twice-weekly touch-ups, says Boyle. But it has put his mind to bigger things for next year. Park sensed that as well.

"Pink hair, while inconvenient for a few weeks, was a small sacrifice to attract support to fight cancer. However, I'm almost certain that his asking price will be higher next time," Park said.  

Acknowledging the accuracy of that statement, Boyle commented that when he realized how easy it was to raise $635, the final donation tally, he began planning for next year.

"The goal really needs to be set higher. They raised $500 in three hours, so with some publicity, we should be able to raise $2,000 or more next year," Boyle said.

And what can the campus community expect for that $2,000?

"For $2,000 or more, I'm thinking a pink ribbon tattoo is in order," Boyle offered. "And there are five acceptable locations I'm already considering."

Until then, Boyle can be recognized as the formerly pink-haired, currently bald man in UCS who doesn't let his appearance get in the way of a good cause. His two-week commitment to pink hair ended Oct. 21.

Other campus organizations donating time and money to Breast Cancer Awareness Month efforts include Women's Studies, which offered literature on breast cancer awareness at the Scramble Light Oct. 3-5; Phi Mu, which held a Chapter Development on Breast Cancer Awareness Oct. 16 and sold Awareness bracelets to members; Colleges Against Cancer, which set up a table at the Scramble Light on Oct. 18 and offered literature and pink ribbons to passers-by; Panhellenic Council, which  sponsored a Bowling for Breast Cancer tournament; Chi Omega, which focused its fall philanthropy on raising funds for breast cancer research; and Kappa Delta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Delta Tau Delta, which raised funds for breast cancer research.

For more information on the Komen Foundation, visit www.komen.org.