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More on KentOnline
An inspiring six-year-old boy who is learning to walk on prosthetic legs has managed to take 50 steps unaided in a fundraising tribute to his hero Captain Sir Tom Moore.
Tony Hudgell, from Kings Hill, walked the distance after setting himself the challenge to take 100 steps without his crutches to mark what would have been the veteran's 101st birthday.
Watch as Tony takes his steps
While taking on the feat, he is also raising money for the Evelina Children's Hospital in London after doctors and nurses saved his life as a baby.
In 2017 Tony had to have both legs amputated after suffering horrific abuse at the hands of his birth parents.
Before starting the challenge yesterday, Tony had only ever walked five or six steps unaided and now, through sheer determination, he reached the fundraiser's halfway mark in just one day.
Tony's adoptive mum Paula Hudgell said: "We are all really proud and the lovely comments we have had from people have been incredible.
"He never gives up, he is really determined and loves a challenge, that's the thing that inspires him to do it.
"Even if he reaches 100 steps today he will carry on with the challenge to do as many as he can."
So far more than £31,179 has been raised on the Just Giving page but with gift aid and donations directly to the hospital in Tony's name, the total has surpassed £50,000.
The Discovery School pupil is gearing up to get started on day two today and hopes to complete the challenge by Monday, May 3.
The fundraiser comes after the family of Captain Sir Tom, who died on February 2 and raised almost £33m for NHS charities, encouraged people to take on their own 100 challenge, on what would have been his birthday weekend.
People can create their own challenge around the number 100 to raise cash for a good cause.
After being inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore's 100 laps around the garden for the NHS last year, Tony set his own challenge of walking 10km on his new legs and crutches for the Evelina London Children's Hospital in June.
He captured the nation's heart as he raised more than £1.5m.
The little lad received messages and praise from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as well as other famous faces.
He even won a Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Award for the effort.
Sadly, Tony was not able to meet his hero Captain Sir Tom but mum Paula says the youngster talks about him every day.
