More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A little boy who raised more than £1 million for charity by walking 10km on his new prosthetic legs has met the Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson visited Tony Hudgell, five, who lost his limbs after being abused as a baby, at the Discovery School in Kings Hill, where he is a pupil.
Alongside a snap of Mr Johnson stood next to Tony, his mum, Paula Hudgell tweeted: "It's not every day you get to meet the Prime Minister.
"Tony apparently was a little star struck and shy. But Boris has now met the little boy he awarded his Points of Light award too and the fight for Tony's Law."
She also thanked Tonbridge and Malling MP, Tom Tugendhat, who introduced the pair this morning, for publishing the photo.
The hospital saved his life after suffering the abuse at the hands of his biological parents.
At the time, Mrs Hudgell said: "We as a family are absolutely thrilled that Tony has been honoured with this award.
"He knows he has raised some money for the hospital that saved his life but doesn’t completely understand the enormity of the amount.
"He now knows he has won this award but the icing on the cake for Tony is a letter from the Prime Minister - he just loves Boris."
And Tony's Law was a bill which has been presented to the House of Commons which will see tougher sentences handed out to those who abuse children. It followed a campaign by his adoptive parents, supported by Mr Tugendhat.
The PM also visited the school to announce a "level-up" in pupil funding across the country.
It comes as the government has revealed each secondary school will attract a minimum of £5,150 per pupil and each primary a minimum of £4,000 from 2021.
Mr Johnson said: “Every child deserves a superb education - regardless of which school they attend, or where they happened to grow up.
“That is why we are providing additional funding now and for the future for every school - with those historically underfunded receiving the greatest increase.
“I want to again thank teachers, childcare workers and support staff for the brilliant work they have done throughout the pandemic, and for the preparations underway to welcome back all children from September.
“Our £1 billion Covid catch-up package, on top of these increases in per pupil funding, will help head teachers support those who have fallen behind while out of school, and deliver a superb education for all children across the country.”
Mr Tugendhat added: "It was a pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister to the Discovery School in Kings Hill. I am delighted he came to such an excellent school, which is central to the local community, to make an announcement that will be welcome by all of us in Kent.
"I have long campaigned for fairer funding and ensuring that every pupil will attract a minimum of £4,000 per year will help our all schools.
"We are lucky in Kent to have some of the very best schools in the country and this welcome funding increase will help them continue to provide an excellent education for our children.”
