Sydney Nelson, like many 10-year-old girls, is crazy about horses, likes spending time with her dogs and says that recess is her favorite subject in school.
Unlike many 10-year-olds, however, Sydney must travel three times a week to the Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia for physical therapy. An injury to her spinal cord left her paralyzed from the waist down.
"Sydney is a very strong and determined person," said Lori Welch, of New Bloomfield. "She's her own little person. She does what she wants to do when she wants to do it, and that's good because it will help her get through this."
Welch is a cousin to Sydney's mother and also has a 10-year-old daughter. She is organizing a benefit on Sydney's behalf that will be from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, at the Fulton VFW. There will be a spaghetti dinner with a suggested $7 donation. A live auction will start at 3 p.m.