At just six weeks old, Tony Hudgell suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of his biological parents. The abuse left him with severe damage to his legs and hips. Due to delayed medical attention and the extent of the trauma, doctors were forced to amputate both of his legs above the knee when he was three years old. His hip remains permanently dislocated.

Tony was later adopted by Mark and Paula Hudgell from Kings Hill, Kent. Despite the profound physical challenges, he grew into a determined and optimistic child.

In June 2020, inspired by Captain Tom Moore’s fundraising walks during the COVID-19 pandemic, five-year-old Tony set himself a goal: to walk 10 kilometres on his new prosthetic legs and crutches to raise money for Evelina London Children’s Hospital — the same hospital that had saved his life. His initial target was just £500. By the end of the month he had raised more than £1.8 million.

His extraordinary achievement captured national attention. Tony’s story also helped drive a major change in UK law. “Tony’s Law,” incorporated into the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, significantly increased maximum prison sentences for child cruelty and for causing or allowing the death of a child.

In recognition of his fundraising and advocacy work against child abuse, Tony was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2024 New Year Honours. At the age of nine he became the youngest person ever to receive the honour. Queen Camilla later presented him with the medal at a private ceremony.

Tony continues to support other children through the Tony Hudgell Foundation and has completed further challenges, including climbing a Lake District summit. His resilience, generosity, and refusal to be limited by his injuries have made him an inspiration across the United Kingdom and beyond.

Sources

• Wikipedia and official Tony Hudgell Foundation
• BBC News, The Times, Daily Mail, and Mirror reports on Tony Hudgell’s fundraising and honours
• Coverage of “Tony’s Law” and the 2024 New Year Honours list