Thursday, October 6, 2016

Grateful Hearts

Darlin' Forrest,

We count our blessings every day and this week we have so many blessings to be thankful for!  Your health and growing strength, your voice that is becoming clearer it seems every day, and of course your many friends and supporters throughout your journey.   As you told me recently, "the best part Mum, is that now I can use what happened to me to help others".

At that is just what you did last week end!  Great accomplishments take team work and what a Team you had!  With incredible support from The Red Fox Inn, Salamander Resort, Backstreet Catering, The Hill School, the talented and compassionate staff of A Place To BE, and many other volunteers, we hosted a fundraiser for the Forrest Stone Allen Financial Aid Fund at APTB.  It was in conjunction with the premiere of this year's Same Sky Project, which included performances of Behind the Label and Will to Survive.  Both AMAZING casts touched the hearts of everyone in the audience with their courage, talent, original music, and messages of hope, empathy and kindness.  If you missed this performance there are still opportunities to see A Will to Survive.  Please checkout the schedule at aplacetobeva.org website under "Upcoming Events"!

Forrest and his courageous friend Scott take the stage in Behind the Label.

Forrest singing his heart out for his best friend, Toliver, as the cast mimes Toliver's puppy love!

Forrest and Toliver take a bow


The audience responded to the performers and to Forrest and Tom's improv during intermission with an outpouring of generosity and we beat our stretch goal of raising $80,000 for financial aid at APTB!  Here is a link to their humorous exchange from Sunday:  https://www.youtube.com/watch

We NEVER could have accomplished this Forrest, without the love, faith and support of your friends and extended community.  Thank you Thank you to everyone who gave their time, energy, and talents to make this weekend such a success and to all the generous souls who donated to APTB so that others in need will have the opportunity to receive the transformative power of music therapy and support from APTB.

God Bless,

Mum

Forrest also wants to thank Missy & her cool friends for an awesome time at the PEC ball!!!  It was "EPIC" !!!





3 comments:

  1. What a wonderful fundraising event for a great cause! Wow...a lot of people will be helped by these efforts and that is wonderful to know! You look like you were a shining star (again) performing. Well done! (Seems like I say that a lot.)

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  2. I had the honor and privilege to meet this beautiful family years ago as I served them at a Charlottesville restaurant. They were staying in Charlottesville while Forrest was recovering at UVA from his accident. At the time, I was in nursing school at UVA working on completing my Masters Degree. I've since finished and have since gone on to complete my NP and work in the field of Palliative Care. Something struck me today to check on Forrest as it had been a while (likely several years) since I had logged on. I must say, I sit at my desk in tears reading this and knowing just how far you have come. Your strength, endurance, and positivity are certainly inspiring and I'm so thankful to see you doing so well! Please know that I will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers and wishing you all the blessings that life can provide!!

    Sincerely,
    Natalie Tacke

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