(most of these beautiful photos are thanks to Kimberly Grigg)
Tara's husband:
"I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who organized, volunteered, helped, donated, and came out for the family carnival. I am truly honoured and humbled to be part of such a wonderful, caring and generous community. You have all been part of something that will spread ripples of goodness for many years to come."
Tara's parents:
"We are in awe and so humbled by the outpouring of love and work everbody did for Sunday's carnival. Words really fail us. We are trying to understand why, out of this heart wrenching time something good will happen. That started on Sunday, the wonderful feeling we had when we walked through the gates, you certainly have helped all of us with our grieving."
Organizer - Christina:
"We made a statement yesterday — that we will not be complacent in the face of personal tragedy. None of us will ever forget that special day when we turned our sadness into a celebration of life, and when we came together to show that we matter to each other."
Organizer - Gillian:
"Know that this day could not possibly have happened without every one of you! We wanted you to know, and be able to bask in the glory of the fact, that together we all raised more than $10,000 for Tara's family!"
A Letter to the Editor from Tara's Parents:
Celebration of life a beautiful event
Re: Carnival celebrates life, News, Aug. 27, 2010.
In June our beautiful daughter Tara Allman (nee Black) died. She was a joy to behold to all that knew her — a loving wife, mother daughter, sister and auntie.
Tara was in the prime of her life when she died. It was a heart-wrenching time for her family and friends.
On Sunday the most incredible thing happened. Friends from the various home school groups that Tara and Zack were in contact with rallied together and had the most fantastic carnival and silent auction in Tara’s honour, for Zack, Noah and Piper.
This is just to say a “big thank you.” Words really fail us, we feel so humble. The whole thing was organized by the home school parents. The work that must have gone on behind the scenes and on the day were second-to-none. Well done!
As parents, we have a gaping hole in our hearts, but on Sunday being amongst so many wonderful people, that hole is getting smaller.
Our grateful thanks to everybody who contributed to make the occasion “For Tara with Love” such a success.
Other Carnival Thanks from the Community:
Thanks to all for the WONDERFUL carnival you put on. All the work you did
was absolutely amazing, what a fun day you gave us! ~ Jen
To all of you who organized, volunteered, contributed to today's amazing fundraising carnival....THANK YOU!!! I am indescribably grateful to know that I am raising my children within a community that offers as much love and support and togetherness as this fantastic community does! Much love to all :) ~ Rhiannon
Ditto. It was an honor to feel a (small) part of such a caring and active
community of folks. Thanks for walking the walk. ~ Peg
Thank you to everyone who helped organize this event! There was so much involved and the love and support was evident everywhere! There was a lot of work that went in to making this event successful. It was very well planned! You thought of everything - even directions posted on the streets! Wow! Thanks again. ~ Annabelle
We're so thrilled about the success of the fun fair!! You organizers did SUCH an amazing job. It was really beautiful to be there and to take part in such an act of love. ~ Susie's family
Carnival Celebrates Life - article from Goldstream News Gazette
By Erin McCracken
Published: August 26, 2010 1:00 PM
As big brother Peter and mom Heather look on, little Juniper Jones tries to peek at a poster heralding the upcoming Family Fun Carnival in Metchosin. The carnival celebrates the life of Tara Allman.
Through all the tears, heartbreak and grief, something else far stronger has emerged.
Love and celebration of the life of a Metchosin woman, who lost her fight against cancer, have poured into the organization of the Family Fun Carnival and silent auction in Metchosin this Sunday.
Heather Jones and 11 other home-schooling moms from as far away as Duncan spearheaded the effort as a way of showing their love for Tara Allman, her two young children and her husband.
“We wanted to be there in any way, in thought and in heart,” said Jones.
“What it has evolved into is really quite special,” the Metchosin resident said while perched on the steps of Metchosin Community House. “It’s been a really heartwarming experience. It’s taken all of us to make this happen.”
As the moms canvassed their communities and families for silent auction donations, the support they have received has been touching. Many people they approached knew Allman but didn’t know she had been privately battling colon cancer. She was in her early 40s and passed away in June.
“You go in asking for support and leaving with a hug and a tear,” Jones said.
More than $7,000 in silent auction items and services have been collected to help Allman’s husband be home with his children.
“We want to give them a beautiful day and be able to heal our own hurt a little bit,” Jones explained.
Regarded as a gentle and sweet woman, Allman faced her disease much like she embraced each day “with a lot of life,” said Jones, who met Allman eight years ago at the Metchosin farmers’ market. “She was just the type of woman you met once and fell in love with.”
The way Allman spoke with her children was inspirational to everyone who knew her, especially for members of the Victoria Home Learners’ Network Association, which Allman was apart of.
“We’re not just a community of home learners,” said Jones, watching her own children play on the grass. “We’re a community of friends.”
The lineup of afternoon events will feature a Kernel Popcorn magic show at 1:15 p.m., crafts, face painting, games, barbecued food, and snow cones, a daddy dunk tank and a Malaika Marimba concert at 2 p.m. Allman was an avid marimba musician.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Family Fun Carnival at the Metchosin Community House, 4430 Happy Valley Rd., Aug. 29 from noon to 4 p.m.
