Going green for love: The Woodlands John Hennigan's alter ego raises awareness of cancer

THE WOODLANDS, TX – John and Diane Hennigan of The Woodlands held on to a life-changing secret for an entire weekend, even though it broke their hearts to have to do so.

Their daughter, Kelley, then just 12-years old, had cancer.

'At the time, Kelley was one of the top five gymnasts in the country at her level,' John said.

They were getting ready to go to a country-wide invitational in Columbus, Ohio when they received the news after Kelley discovered a lump on her shoulder. John and Diane didn't tell Kelley the diagnosis until after the event.

'It was catastrophic, to say the least,' John said. 'Apparently Kelley wasn't meant to live, based on the diagnosis. We came home not knowing what to expect, but that Monday morning when we met with her doctors, they said she was misdiagnosed. I didn't know whether to kiss him or kick his butt.'

The specific type of cancer was never nailed down, but Kelley went through five weeks of almost daily radiation at M.D. Anderson followed by surgery to remove the tumor.

'I remember a lot,' said Kelley, now 32-years old. 'The process to even getting a cancer diagnosis takes time, treatment takes time. My parents were really open with me every step of the way. They let me be in conversations with doctors. I felt really in the loop with everything that was happening. I definitely remember a lot of doctor visits, tests and a lot of conversations about what it means. My impression, at the time, was only old people had cancer.'

In 2006, John became involved with the St. Baldrick's Foundation while working in marketing at Goose's Acre in The Woodlands. When he learned more about the event, he felt an instant connection.

'I told Goose's Acre, 'you don't understand the community you live in. I've never seen anything like our community; they are the most generous people in the world.' But that first year we had all of four people and raised $3,009,' John said. 'I was just distraught.'

But year after year, things got better. More than 50 people participated at Goose's Acre this year. Donations continue online.

John always asks participants why they're willing to shave their heads, but perhaps not many know all the reasons why John himself is a supporter. There are three: In 2014, his brother Tommy died of brain cancer at age 56. John himself recently had a cancer scare when a blood-related tumor was found beneath his jaw bone. And, of course, his only child, Kelley.

Kelley now lives in Austin where she is a manager at Lululemon. She maintains an athletic lifestyle, placing 33rd in the world in the 2012 CrossFit Games.

It was sports that helped her get through her cancer diagnosis and treatment.

'I would go to school in the morning and then have to go downtown (Houston) for treatment, so it started to make me feel a little out of place, like something weird was happening to me,' said Kelley, who attended Wilkerson Intermediate and Knox Junior High in The Woodlands. 'I was only 12-years old. I would still go to the gym every single day, just to feel as normal as possible, and I was grateful my parents let me do that. Gymnastics and school were my top priorities. I was practicing 25-30 hours a week, going for some goals, working towards an elite-level scholarship. Cancer put a little bump in a lot of the plans.'

That bump never became a roadblock.

'Kelley thrived,' John said. 'She went to nationals six times while she was in school. She went to the University of Denver on a full-ride as a gymnast. She made nationals with her team both freshman and sophomore years. Junior and senior years, she went to nationals by herself.'

Kelley said she's just as proud of her dad as he is of her.

'He inspires me,' Kelley said. 'I know he's been deeply moved by events in his life. The way he turns something negative into something that makes people smile is incredible. It's been amazing to see him take it (St. Baldrick's) from the first year and continue to do it year after year. It's become his alter ego, with the green hair and beard. He was really impacted by me going through treatment. He gets into action. That's just how he rolls.'