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More on KentOnline
A portrait capturing the incredible fundraising efforts of a double amputee from Kings Hill has been selected by the Duchess of Cambridge for a new digital exhibition.
Tony Hudgell was photographed on his mission to walk 10km throughout June on his new prosthetic legs by photographer David Tett.
The image of the Discovery School pupil powering through his challenge has made it into the National Portrait Gallery’s latest project, 'Hold Still'.
It aims to document the spirit, mood, hopes, fears and feelings of the nation as it continues to deal with Covid-19.
Inspired by Captain Tom Moore, six-year-old Tony raised more than £1million for staff at the Evelina London Children's Hospital who saved his life as a baby.
Tony had to have both his legs amputated at 41 days old after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of his biological parents.
Mr Tett, a professional photographer from London, said meeting brave Tony was 'one of the best jobs' he has done in a long time.
He said: "I took the photo for Evelina a couple of months ago and that was the first time I met Tony.
"It was so lovely to be able to photograph him because he had such an enthusiasm for what he was doing and I was amazed by what he achieved.
"He was quite difficult to photograph because he was so quick so it took several attempts."
Encouraged by the team at Evelina, Mr Tett submitted the photo to the exhibition.
Out of more than 31,000 entries, the heart-warming image was selected for the top 100 hand-picked by the Duchess, who is the gallery's patron, and a panel of esteemed judges.
Photos by others from Kent have been included in the top 100.
Zak Waters, a photographer and lecturer at EKC Group’s Folkestone College, captured mum Amanda Jessup, 28, and her son Terrance, five, as they isolated together.
Diane Bartholomew Magalhaes from Gravesend has also joined the line up.
Her image shows her mum Constance, dad Dennis, and four-year-old daughter Maliha wearing home-made masks when they reunited for the first time in months.
Diane says the image represents love, unity and a bond between grandparents and their grandchild during 'their new normal'.
Rebecca Douglas from Margate captured Paul and Simon peering out the window of their 15th floor home in Arlington House.
The image forms part of a series Rebecca created called 'Lockdown Life' which documented those united in staying at home.
She said she feels her image symbolises the solitude and stillness of lockdown in Thanet.
Kyle David Tallett, who works at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford , submitted a photo of his colleague Allen titled 'end of a night shift'.
On his submission, Mr Tallett said: "I wanted to record my team in action as something to give them at the end to remember our experiences by.
"On this day, I walked in to take handover from the night team that Allen was leading; as I sat opposite him and I thought: ‘There’s a picture’, a determined healthcare worker at the end of a trying shift."
The National Portrait Gallery says it hopes the photographs can be showcased in cities across the UK later in the year.
