Frost Fest Added to Freezin’ for a Reason

Jacqueline Stack, a 12-year-old girl from Mahopac, has grown from being the inspiration behind the annual Freezin’ for a Reason lake jump into one of its most passionate participants.

At only eight months old Stack was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a life threatening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States, 70,000 worldwide.

Even though two years ago a medication approved by the U.S. Federal and Drug Administration to help Jacqueline, her family still is dedicated to fighting for the rest of the 96 percent of the people who have this disease and to help them get through it and find a cure that works for them.

“We are celebrating and we are happy. But we are not going to stop because our baby has been helped,” Jacqueline’s mother Christine Stack said. “Our job will not be done until we have helped the other 96 percent.”

“The Stack family is amazing,” said Trina Ward Fontaine, senior project manager for the New York Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “Some people would have said well my daughter is saved so I am done, but they don’t. They are not stopping until there is a cure for everyone with cystic fibrosis, because they feel so fortunate.”

After a more than a year on the medicine Jacqueline is doing great.

“If they tested her today [while on the medication] it would come up that she does not have cystic fibrosis,” said Ward Fontaine.

Through the years Jacqueline has kept active with soccer and dance and she has made a lot of friends along the way. Each year you can see dozens of her friends participating in the lake jump.

This year the Stacks have decided to expand the Freezin’ for a Reason traditions and include a pre-jump Frost Fest for the kids.

“Jacqueline is getting older and her friends want to participate more so we figured we could hold a day of fun for the kids, then have the jump and then have the after party for the adults,” said Christine Stack. “We really wanted to include them because now they are really wanted to so we wanted to get them more involved.”

To accommodate the additional activities, the Stack family moved the jump location to Sycamore Park from Mahopac Golf Course.

“The kids started to play football on the lawn of Mahopac Golf Club last year. By moving it to Sycamore we are allowing the kids to have a blast,” Christine Stack said.

Frost Fest, which will take place from noon until 4 p.m. will include kickback games, soccer games, Simon Says and a dunk tank. There will be hot dogs and pizza to munch on and hot chocolate to help keep the kids warm.

Registration for the jump will take place between noon and 3:30 p.m. Then a bad pipe procession will led the swimmers to the lake at 4:15. The jump will begin at 4:30 p.m.

After the jump an adult after party will be held at Putnam National Golf Club in Mahopac from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Last year the Freezin for a Reason event raised $160,000 that benefited the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Christine Stack is hoping to exceed that in 2013.

This year Freezin for a Reason will be held on March 9 at Sycamore Park in Mahopac. The after party will be held at Putnam National Golf Club in Mahopac.

Jumpers with $100 or more in sponsorships can get free admission to after-party and t-shirt. Child jumpers that are under 14 and not part of a team can receive a t-shirt with $50 in sponsorships.

There are prizes for the top fundraising individuals and teams.

The after party includes dinner and dancing with music provided by Music by Soul Mates. Tickets to the after party are $75. There will be raffles, a silent auction and a live auction.

To donate or for more information visit: http://westchester.cff.org/freezin or call 845-222-6233.