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Parkersburg three-year-old in running for Hasbro Toddler of the Year

Madeline Cox, Toddler of the year contender. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — A 3-year-old girl from Parkersburg is in the running for Hasbro’s Toddler of the Year for 2025.

Madeline Cox, the daughter of Wes and Abbey Cox of Parkersburg, was born with the rare osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, and suffered an ischemic stroke at birth, Abbey said. It was uncertain she would be able to walk or talk, but has recently entered preschool at Parkersburg Catholic.

“Madeline has been so inspirational for us,” Wes said. “We hope she can do the same for everyone else.”

Madeline loves dancing and has dreams of becoming a ballerina. She runs through the house pretending to be a dinosaur and chasing her brother, Archie.

She enjoys singing and making up her own songs. A fan of Peppa Pig, she has even been known to slip into the show’s British accent from time to time.

Madeline Cox, 3, poses for a selfie with her mother, Abbey Cox of Parkersburg. Madeline is in the quarterfinals for Hasbro’s Toddler of the Year. (Photo Provided)

Toddler of the Year recognizes kids ages 2-3. The Toddler of the Year will receive $25,000, lead the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles and receive a trip to a Peppa Pig theme park.

Applying was spur of the moment, according to Abbey.

“I saw an ad for it and sent it on a whim,” Abbey said.

After a month, Madeline has reached the quarterfinals, of which voting ends on Sept. 11.

The web address to cast a vote is https://tinyurl.com/5ha4zssp.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.

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