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Sandy Allen, the Guinness record holder as the world's tallest woman, passed away in August at the age of 53, but her grave still has no permanent tombstone. This week, residents of her hometown of Shelbyville, Indiana, will hold a fundraiser to cover the cost of a permanent marker for her grave. Allen, whose extreme height was caused by a rare pituitary disorder, was 7 feet, 7-1/4 inches tall at the time of her death. Friends described her as a kind but lonely soul, whose immense height often prevented her from making human connections. People would often gawk and stare -- and even scream -- when they saw her.
"People weren't kind. Just the screaming," recalled Allen's friend Kim Blacklock. "It was like that kind of shock where they can't even stop their mouth to think that a human being is going to be the recipient of their reaction."
Still, Allen was undeterred from finding the sweeter side of life. "I try to be friendly with everyone I meet," she said. "Some make it tougher than others. But I think that I'm this way so that I can encourage people not to give up if they've got problems in life."
Click here for info on how to donate if you can't make it to Shelbyville for the charity softball game.
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Tuesday 14 October
By mary
gee, was this fine lady in the guiness world book of records numerous times? you'd think they might want to contribute. how pathetic mankind is.
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Thursday 16 October
By Rita
Thank you for the nice article on Sandy -- she was my friend of 31 years and certainly deserves a nice headstone. The part of the article that said she had trouble making human connections just isn't true. In her lifetime, she made many connections across Indiana and the world as she evolved from a shy schoolgirl into a confident adult who used her height to educate children about people's differences and tolerance. Yes, she was lonely at times, but she also was surrounded by many friends who helped to make her last few years in a nursing home comfortable. I hope everyone will remember Sandy for the giving, caring and humorous peerson that she was.
My new book, "World's Tallest Woman: The Giantess of Shelbyville High," will be out Nov. 1. For more info and to preorder, visit www.thegiantessofshelbyvillehigh.com.
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Monday 28 December
By Heather Dickerson
Just hearing her story has inspired me. I am only 4'9 at the age of 22 and people are always cracking jokes and asking me when I am going to grow up? I thought that was annoying, but people actually would look at her and yell at the sight. I don't think I would be able to keep my cool if that happened to me! The good really does die young!
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