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Date: 8/18/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – It was a shock to East Longmeadow and many in the surrounding communities when Birchland Park Middle School Principal Timothy Allen, known to friends and family as Timmy, experienced a heart attack on July 24 while vacationing on Cape Cod. But since then, friends and strangers have come together to offer support.
The news of Allen’s heart attack, “was a shock, like a two-by-four to the head,” said Nick Fournier, Allen’s best friend since kindergarten. “He’s a very healthy guy. He’s a runner, plays basketball, lifts weights,” Fournier said of his friend.
Allen is slowly recovering from his injuries at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. “We’re optimistic for a full recovery,” Fournier said, but noted that friends and family are taking a “tortoise and the hare” approach – “slow but steady wins the race.”
Fournier went on to say, “The doctors have been very realistic.” Allen only recently began breathing on his own and Fournier said he is not expected to be back at school for the first part of the year.
In the days after Allen’s heart attack, Fournier joined with Allen’s college friends to find a way to support their friend.
“Timmy is a connoisseur of unique t-shirts,” Fournier said, so the group decided to run a fundraiser by selling bright green T-shirts emblazoned with #TimmyStrong on the front and No Surrender on the back. They figured there would be about 150 orders, so the group was shocked when, after the drive was publicized by the head of the Birchland Park Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, they received over 2,400 orders in under three weeks.
A portion of the money raised from the sale of the shirts and donations will go to the Allen family, which includes his wife and two daughters.
“Basically, because it’s so soon, we don’t know what the financial cost to his family will be,” Fournier said.
The rest of the money will fund heart-health awareness, CPR training and defibrillators in the community.
Businesses in the area around East Longmeadow are also lending a hand to help Allen recover. Nathan Bill’s Bar & Restaurant in Springfield recently donated 10 percent of food sales to #Timmy Strong. The Depot at Graham Central Station also hosted a fundraiser, donating 20 percent of proceeds from its three-hour event, and Posto in Longmeadow is scheduled to host a similar fundraiser on Aug. 28.
So many people have reached out to volunteer or donate that Fournier said, “We don’t even have enough tasks for all the people who want to help. It’s been overwhelming.”
Fournier explained to Reminder Publishing why his friend has aroused so much support from people. “When you meet Timmy, instantly, you think he’s your best friend. There’s no doubt he’s engaged in whatever you’re talking about,” Fournier said. “He oozes positivity, he’s charismatic. He has such a love of family, sport, his community. I think that’s contagious.” Fournier finished by saying his friend, “brings people together. He’s infectious.”
In addition to learning more about Allen and the #TimmyStrong campaign at https://sites.google.com/eastlongmeadowma.gov/timmystrong/home, people can follow Allen’s recovery online at https://www.facebook.com/timmyallenstrong.
Those who want to help financially can Venmo donations to @timmystrong. They are also accepting checks, payable to #TIMMYSTRONG, which can be mailed to #TIMMYSTRONG, c/o Nick Fournier, 119 Cedar Rd., Longmeadow, MA 01106.