A young boy who had both of his legs amputated when he was a baby after his birth parents physically abused him has managed to raise over £145,000 for healthcare workers.
5-year-old Tony Hudgell from Kent has promised to walk daily to raise funds for Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where his life was miraculously saved when he was only a baby.
The brave boy started his mission after seeing Captain Tom Moore, who walked laps of his home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Little Tony appeared on BBC Breakfast with his adoptive parents, Mark and Paula Hudgell, and has since gained over £130,000 in less than a day.
Tony was only 41 days old when he had to have both legs amputated after suffering abuse from his biological parents. He was taken to hospital with several fractures, sepsis, and multiple organ failures, leaving him on life support at the hospital.
When Tony was finally discharged from hospital at four months old, he was placed under the foster care of Mark and Paula, who decided to adopt him.
Tony, who received his first pair of artificial legs this year, has promised to walk 10km to raise funds for Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
His mom, Paula, shared: “Tony has been trying so hard with his crutches and it’s gruelling for him. But then he saw Captain Tom on the news and said “Look, he’s like me!”
“So we decided that if Tony got a little bit stronger on his crutches he could set himself his own challenge.”
She continued: “He is such a bright, determined and confident boy that him wanting to do something like this doesn’t surprise me, even when I consider his terrible start in life.
“He was just weeks old when he suffered appalling abuse from his birth parents and left seconds from death.”
Paula added: “The Evelina has become a second home for him and the staff are like family. We also have many friends working there on the NHS frontline caring for very poorly children with Covid-related Kawasaki disease.
“This is just our little way of helping them at this difficult time. Tony started on Monday June 1 and aims to walk a little every day, keeping a tally until he hopefully reaches his 10km target.
“It may seem like an easy task but this will be a huge achievement for Tony, and he’ll need every bit of encouragement along the way!”
He was also excited to receive a video message from Hannah Ingram-Moore, Tom Moore’s daughter, after his appearance on BBC Breakfast.
Hannah and Tom Moore’s grandchildren Benji and Georgia said they are ‘so proud’ of him and wished him all the best on his mission.
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Replaced!