A seven-year-old's impromptu art sale has raised almost $400 for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
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Maddi Wren set up an art stall outside a friend's house in Greenmeadows Drive in Port Macquarie on Monday [June 14].
Maddi's 11 paintings and one still life drawing were snapped up within one hour.
The fundraising total reached almost $400 after Sharon Drew from Port Macquarie boutique Glasshouse Emporium donated $200.
The art sale proceeds will be donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service which has been saving lives since 1975 through its emergency aeromedical operation.
"I almost died when I was born because I came too early," Maddi said.
"I don't want any other people to die or get hurt or get sick."
And while the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service wasn't involved in Maddi's journey after her premature birth, Maddi and her mum Jayne know all about the importance of helping others.
Maddi entered the world seven weeks early, to the surprise of her parents Ashley and Jayne, during what was meant to be a brief trip to Fiji for a friend's wedding in 2014.
The Port Macquarie community raised more than $20,000 to cover hospital costs and a doctor-assisted journey back to Australia.
Tragedy struck one week after the family returned home when Ashley died of a heart attack. He was 41.
Jayne has instilled in her daughter the value of generosity and giving back to the community.
"Ash was a really giving person and he would be so proud of Maddi," Jayne said.
"Maddi has the biggest heart and I love her to bits."
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Mid-North Coast regional partnership officer Richard McGovern said on behalf of the service, they were absolutely rapt that Maddi had sold her artworks to raise money for the vital service.
"Our aeromedical helicopters are quite expensive to run and every dollar helps," he said.
Maddi created the artworks, which featured unicorns, fairies, butterflies and flowers, over the past 12 months.
The St Columba Anglican School student said art made her happy.
"It's one of the things I like to do - I'm mostly very arty and creative," she said.
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