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Raffle to Rally for Sam


One of our own, Apryl Simmons—a devoted Dragonfly yogi since 2014—is navigating a family hardship no one should ever have to face. Apryl’s 13yr old son, Sam, is battling a rare disorder called Acute Cerebellar Ataxia that has affected his vision, balance and ability to walk. Sam’s illness has forced him out of school so he can focus on PT four to five days a week along with regular trips to DC for specialist care. As a result, Apryl has had to quit her job to stay home with Sam. Sam’s dad is a Federal Police officer and has taken a significant amount of family leave to help out.  Even with insurance, the out-of-pocket cost of Sam’s care and the family’s loss of income has taken a significant financial toll.

What is Acute Cerebellar Ataxia? Acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA) is a rare disorder that occurs when the cerebellum becomes inflamed or damaged. The cerebellum is the area of the brain responsible for controlling gait and muscle coordination. The term ataxia refers to a lack of fine control of voluntary movements. Acute means the ataxia comes on quickly, on the order of minutes to a day or two. ACA is also known as cerebellitis. 

Children with ACA often have a loss of coordination and may have difficulty performing daily tasks. The condition most commonly affects children, particularly those between ages 2 and 7. The headaches can be painful as the cerebellum is infected causing massive migraines.

During July, Dragonfly Yoga Studio will be asking its yogis and the community to help raise funds for the Simmons family by purchasing $5 raffle tickets good for a gift basket worth over $400. The winning raffle will be drawn at the end of the month and 100% of the raffle proceeds will be given to the Simmons family.

The basket includes: Dragonfly 10 class yoga pass, 60-minute private yoga session w/ Michelle Echo, 60-minute private yoga session w/ Becca Childress, Skin + Touch Therapy Spa $50.00 gift card, Red Dragon Brewery $25.00 gift card, Elizabeth Freeman handmade pottery (noodle bowl and mug), bottle of wine from City Vino, and a Love water bottle.

Whether you choose to purchase one raffle ticket, 10 raffle tickets, or just spread the news via social media or word of mouth, every little bit helps, and it’s how the community comes together for one of our own.

Raffle tickets can be purchased online, with the MINDBODY app or in the studio.