[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7385]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING ``TEAM KRISTA'' IN THE RACE FOR HOPE AND HONORING THE 
              MEMORY OF KRISTA THOMPSON OF MASON NECK, VA.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2010

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
memory of Krista Thompson of Mason Neck, Virginia.
  Krista Thompson was an honor roll student at South County Secondary 
School in Fairfax County, Virginia. She was a member of the symphonic 
orchestra, lettered in swimming, and participated in tennis and field 
hockey. During the summer, Krista was a lifeguard at Pohick Bay 
Regional Park and enjoyed family trips to Maine with her parents, Steve 
and Kathie, and her brothers, Jason and Jeffrey. Krista was a teenager 
with a strong support system and a drive to succeed.
  While all who knew Krista were aware of her many talents and 
qualities, most did not know that Krista was suffering from a very 
serious disease. Although Krista had been diagnosed with brain cancer 
at age thirteen, she did not make the disease a part of her identity. 
During the four years that she lived with cancer, Krista never failed 
to be a full participant in all that life offered. Even during the last 
week of her too short life, she went hiking, volunteered at the 
elementary school where her mother taught, and spent time with her 
family. Krista lost her battle with brain cancer on October 28, 2008, 
but her memory lives on in the hearts of her friends and family.
  In 2005, in a show of solidarity, Susan Hamon formed a team to 
participate in the Race for Hope. The team, then known as ``Krista's 
Red Sox,'' raised money for the National Brain Tumor Society and 
Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. For the sixth year, ``Team Krista'' will 
be participating in the Race for Hope. This year, ``Team Krista'' has 
raised nearly forty thousand dollars. Perhaps more impressive and a 
true tribute to the affection that so many feel for Krista and her 
family, the team has more supporters than all but one other team; 286 
people have joined the 2010 ``Team Krista.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join the members of ``Team 
Krista'' in their support for a cure for brain cancer. I would like to 
extend my best wishes to Krista's friends and family. Her memory 
inspires others diagnosed with brain cancer to preserve their 
priorities and cherish personal relationships in the face of adversity.

                          ____________________