Westland girl fighting cancer hopes community will come to her ice cream party to help other sick kids

Metro Detroit businesses donate to 4-year-old's ice cream social to help send other sick children on trip of a lifetime

A four year old Westland girl has had her own fight with cancer, but this Christmas, her wish is to help other sick children, not herself.

Madilynn Jade Seidel was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March of 2011.   She is in remission now, but will continue chemotherapy treatments until May.

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Last year, The Rainbow Connection sent Madi and her family to Give Kids The World Village in Orlando Florida.  It was the trip of a lifetime for Madi and she would like to give other boys and girls battling life-threatening diseases the same opportunity.

"Anywhere Madi goes someone is drawn to her. She has a smile that just I don't know what it is about her, a complete stranger will walk up to her and say 'you are so beautiful' and she is just so grateful to that person," said Madi's mother Nicole Seidel.    "Any single person that comes into her life, you're her best friend and she loves you, and she thinks about you every single day."

"I just love my friends," said Madi.

When you talk to Madi about cancer, she quickly reveals that she is a fighter.   Local 4 first introduced the public to Madi during the 2011 America's Thanksgiving Parade right before she went on her trip.  Rhonda Walker recently went to Madi's home to see how she is doing now.

Rhonda: "What did you fight through?

Madi: "Cancer. I kick its butt"

Rhonda:  "Yeah.  Give me a high five on that.

Madi receives treatments at DMC's Children's Hospital.  It's the place where she has spent two of her four birthdays.   She is given a bravery bead for each trip she makes to the hospital.  After just 20 months, Madi has so many beads, the length of them stringed together is longer than a jumping rope.

Madi enjoys giving to others.  Earlier this year she helped raise $2,200 for the Leukemia Foundation.   But Madi has a much bigger goal in mind now.

She and her family are planning an ice cream social for Thursday December 20th.   The money raised will be given to Give Kids The World Village to help other sick children get a chance to take a trip of a lifetime.

"We're having an ice cream party," said Madi.

Give Kids The World Village is a story book resort near Orlando's Disney them parks.

"It's 70 acres of pure bliss run by volunteers for kids that have cancer or have terminal illnesses," said Seidel.

"When I told her the whole story about how The Rainbow Connection is who actually sent us there and Give Kids the World, she said we should have a party and give all the money to them."

Madi has helped her mother get sponsorships for the Ice Cream Social.

"At four years old she walked in to Meijers and talked to their general manager and got that donation," said Seidel.

"I kept saying 'Can I have a manager please,'" said Madi.

The Detroit Popcorn Company is donating popcorn and Dominos Pizza in Westland is giving the pizza for free.  Applebees and Target have also made donations.

Madi's Ice Cream Social is Thursday December 20 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Joy Manor in Westland.   Joy Manor also donated its huge banquet room for the party.

Santa Arrives at 6:30 p.m. and people can have their picture taken with him.

The cost is $5 per person or $20 per family.

All proceeds will go to Give Kids The World Village. Madi's goal is to raise $4,000 to send four sick children to the resort for a week each.

To learn more about Madi's progress and her fundraiser you can follow her on her Facebook page by clicking here.