Debbie Payne

•          Debbie is a former professional dancer.  In her second career, she has become a well‑known  dance and physical fitness instructor in Fairfax, Virginia.  She instructs hundreds of students in a variety of classes, including Ballet, Zumba, Pilates, Adaptive Pilates, Yoga, Chair Yoga, Stretch,  Core Conditioning, Tai Chi and Qigong.  In addition, she teaches the Special Population  and  Cancer Survivors.  Debbie's students range from children to seniors.    She is a wonderful, inspirational and creative teacher, who encourages her students' minds and bodies to be the best they can.  Her heart and soul are invested in every class she teaches.

•     On January 18, 2018, Debbie was in a very serious automobile accident, resulting in a totaled car and a fractured heel bone, requiring surgery to insert a metal plate to align the bone.  This could  be devastating to someone of Debbie's talent and to her livelihood, but she is keeping a very  positive attitude, as evidenced by her photo.  The friend who's happy having Debbie home is her faithful 15 year-old shih tzu, Boomer, who has not left her side since the accident.  He wouldn't  pose for a photo. 

•     Debbie is an independent contractor so the accident has resulted in loss of income with no  benefits except the medical she carries independently.  In addition, she needs a new/used car to  go back and forth to work six days a week.  She received little or no money from her auto  insurance company.  Even driving may be a problem, since it is her driving foot that was injured.     At the moment her recuperation period is at least 4-6 months and while she may work at some  facilities doing light mat exercises, the majority of her work venues require she be 100% healed  before she returns to work. 

•     Debbie's friends, and in particular her students, miss her and need her to return as soon as  possible.  Though Debbie's accident is a tremendous loss for her, it is also a tremendous loss for all who know her.  Many people have asked how they can help Debbie at this critical time in her career.  So this GoFundMe account has been set up for her friends and family to send her words of encouragement and/or make a donation to help recoup some of her financial losses.  Debbie is a strong, independent woman but know she will be forever grateful for your help at this time of  very unexpected difficulty.  Debbie's family and friends thank you for reading her story and for caring about her.