SEDLEY—Madelyn Cosby wants to use her gift to give back.

The 10-year-old Riverdale Elementary School student will host an art/silent auction and bake sale on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Sedley Baptist Church from 2 to 4 p.m.

Half the proceeds from the sales will go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation — Tidewater Affiliate, and the other half will go to a family friend who has been through of rough time of being diagnosed with cancer. The friend’s home was also robbed while she was at the hospital for treatment.

“I wanted to do something to help people,” Madelyn said. “I was thinking about it last Christmas that I don’t deserve everything I get. There are a lot of people out there without homes, and there are little kids who many not even get a Christmas.”

Cancer became an obvious choice for her after thinking about the family friend, Nikki Outlaw, 30, who has genetic lung cancer and bone cancer.

“No one can heal it, but you can treat it,” Madelyn said.

Her great grand-mother passed away from cancer, and Madelyn had a friend whose mother battled breast cancer.

“There are some people out there going through tough times, and I thought I could help,” she said. “Some people don’t have family to help them.”

Art was the natural choice for the main portion of the auction, as the gifted student spends a lot of time painting. The 10-year-old is also in a gifted art class.

“Well, I have a good gift,” she said. “I thought I’d take my art, and raise money with it.”

Madelyn also enjoys spending time cooking, so a bake sale developed from there. She, and her mother, Kasey, also thought that collecting silent auction items from the community would be another way to raise money. To donate, contact Kasey Cosby at 647-8776 or by email at kaseycosby@hotmail.com.

“I am proud of her,” Kasey Cosby said. “I think for someone her age to want to do for someone else is special, of course I’m partial. Most kids only think about themselves. I’m proud, and I’ll support her in whatever way I can.”

Madelyn started drawing when she was 4.

“I had this vase on the table, and she sketched it,” Kasey Cosby said. “I looked at the picture and it had more detail than I’d expect from a 4-year-old. I was like, OK, we have the talent.

“And it didn’t come from me,” she added with a laugh.

The first thing she ever seriously painted hangs in the family’s dining room, and it won a first-place ribbon at the Chowan County Regional Fair. She’s won three first-place ribbons and two second-place ribbons at various fairs.

Madelyn wants to be an artist when she grows up, or perhaps the next Ace of Cakes, she said.

“With her artistic talents, I feel like there is a lot she can do, even if it is not a studio artist,” Kasey Cosby said.

Madelyn said she hopes some people will take some time out of their weekend to go out and see her. The Sedley Baptist Church, where the event will take place, is located at 17494 Johnsons Mill Road.

“It’s a once in a lifetime chance,” she said with a smile. “Come out and support a worthy cause.”