Boy, 5, with prosthetic legs completes heroic walking challenge and raises more than £1m

  • Video report by ITV News Correspondent Lucy Watson

A five-year-old boy with two prosthetic legs has completed a heroic walking challenge and raised more than £1 million for the NHS hospital that saved his life.

Tony Hudgell had to have both his legs amputated in 2017 as a result of abuse suffered at the hands of his birth parents.

He set out to raise £500 for the hospital that saved his life by walking 10km in 30 days.

But his incredible efforts captured the hearts of tens of thousands of people, with a staggering £1,073,121 raised for Evelina London Children’s Hospital in just a month.

Tony Hudgell, who uses prosthetic legs, holds a trophy after taking the final steps in his fundraising walk

Tony has had to relearn how to walk on his new prosthetic legs but was determined to follow in the footsteps of his hero Captain Tom Moore.

He hugged his adoptive parents Paula and Mark Hudgell as he crossed the finish line in his home town of West Malling in Kent on Tuesday afternoon after completing his challenge.

They were joined by friends, family and hospital staff to celebrate Tony’s achievement.

Tony was greeted with cheers and applause as he passed through the balloon arch finish line on Tuesday.

Tony was inspired to take on the challenge after seeing fellow fundraiser Captain Tom on television and recently received a video message from Captain Tom himself, congratulating him on his achievement.

To donate to Tony’s fundraiser, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tonys-10k-walk