Pals take to the tracks for Marafun fundraiser
Two young boys from Maidstone have raised more than £1,000 for a limb impairment charity in just nine days. Little Tony Hudgell, four, and Thomas Lewis, five, who are both double amputees, took part in a Mojo Marafun organised by the charity Limbpower at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Buckinghamshire. The boys became mates two and a half years ago when their mothers met through mutual friends.
Tony’s mum, Paula, and Thomas’s mother, Juanita, bonded over their experiences. After discussions about their sons’ stories, the mums came to realise Juanita and her children had met Tony prior to Paula and her husband, Mark, adopting him.
Juanita’s son Thomas, who was born prematurely with bilateral fibular hemimelia, has a twin named Harry, who spent the first 14 months of his life in the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London from May 2014. In November that year, Tony, affectionately known as Bear, was admitted to the same hospital and given the bed next to Harry’s after suffering horrific injuries at the hands of his biological parents Jody Simpson and Antony Smith, who were both jailed for 10 years.
Paula said: “It’s good to know Tony had Juanita looking out for him when I wasn’t there and he needed me.” To complete their Marafun, the boys had to do four laps of the race track using any method they wished.
They both opted to race in their wheelchairs and handbikes. Thomas was also able to do part of the race using his prosthetic legs, or what he likes to call his ‘robot legs’. The youngsters were joined by other amputees, including David Williamson, an inspirational athlete who finished his momentous challenge of 30 marathons in 30 days at the event.
Paula said: “It was great for the boys to meet lots of other athletes in the same position as them. “David is an incredible guy and he was so supportive.” As well as the race, there was a climbing wall, raffles, a teddy bear picnic and every child with limb loss received a Teddy with a prosthetic leg. Meanwhile, Tony has been busy preparing for his first year at school in September and graduating from preschool.
“It was quite emotional. I am just so proud of how far he has come,” his mum added. “They have done an amazing job and nurtured him. He is an amazing little firecracker.” He also recently appeared at the Baby Ballet show at The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks which was inclusive for all children to take part.