JB MDL daughter raises money for cancer research

Published June 25, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Katherine Tereyama
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- It takes a village, or in this case, a base to raise a child.

When the 12-year-old daughter of Air Force Lt. Col. Christine Kress was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2013, her village came to her aid. Her family received an outpouring of support from the military community, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and from the myriad service members her family has come to know during her mother's 21-year career in the Air Force.

"When you are in the military, that's your extended family," said Kress, Katie's mother. "During a time of need we are always there to support one another in any way we can.

"People have provided meals, gifts, money to help travel back and forth for her care," she continued. "The joint base has allowed me the flexibility to be with Katie as much as I could during her treatment when she was in the hospital for 140 days."

So when Katie heard about the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and its mission to raise money to fund pediatric cancer research, she decided to pay forward all the help she had received by sponsoring her own local lemonade stand.

"Alex's Lemonade Stand is hope," said Kress. "Knowing people have dedicated their lives to finding a cure gives me hope."

True to form, her joint base family rose to the occasion and helped Katie organize a fundraiser at the base's medical treatment facility.

Together, they raised more than $6,000 by selling lemonade and home-baked treats donated from throughout the base.

"We were able to raise so much money from family, friends and people we don't even know," said Katie. "People who just care."