I interact with a lot of student-athletes each year in the media relations office at the University of Michigan, especially in the sports that I handle directly (football and women's gymnastics). I've written a number of features on coaches, athletes and support staff but the toughest article of my career was on Maureen Moody and her father, Kevin.

photo by Nancy Moody

Maureen is now a senior on the University of Michigan women's gymnastics team and this is the first season that she won't share with her dad, Kevin. Her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer around Thanksgiving in 2008 and he vowed to fight as hard as he could to be in the stands for every one of her gymnastics meets in 2009. He only missed two meets (one to see his son pitch a no-hitter for the Michigan State Spartans) and remained strong for his family despite a difficult illness.

Maureen and her father's bond over gymnastics dates back to when Maureen was a little girl. Gymnastics can be a difficult sport for a father to get actively involved in, but Kevin found common ground in music. Gymnasts select songs to accompany them during floor exercise routines and her dad was a huge classic rock fan. While Maureen was out, Kevin would go through stacks of CDs to find the perfect guitar riff then sit her down in the living room and play them for her, acting out her routine.

He helped her with her floor music all the way through her junior season in college - one final season together.

Read the full feature in M Magazine available on MGoBlue.com