Heartwarming moment Dr Who superfan battling an inoperable brain tumor gets his own Dalek as a gift for Christmas
A Dr Who superfan battling an inoperable brain tumor was left speechless when well-wishers donated £4,500 to give him his very own Dalek for Christmas.
Noah Herniman, 17, from Chepstow in South Wales, was diagnosed with a low-grade glioma in 2021 and has since undergone a brutal chemotherapy treatment.
Inspired by his courageous attitude as he braved the disease, the community rallied to prepare him for it alien battle against one alien intruder – in his own garden.
A heartwarming clip shows the moment Noah – surrounded by dozens of supporters – emerged from his house and was confronted with a huge replica of the iconic science fiction figure.
People clap as the star-struck teenager approaches the Dalek in awe.
A heartwarming clip shows the moment Noah – surrounded by dozens of supporters – emerged from his house and was confronted with a huge replica of the iconic sci-fi figure
“I’m really at a loss for words, but to quote Christopher Eccleston, it’s fantastic,” he said.
‘I’d like to thank everyone who made this Dalek possible.’
To make the gift even more fitting, it appears Noah received it on December 21, International Dalek Remembrance Day in the fandom, commemorating their first appearance on the show in 1963.
His mother Shelly, 51, said he was a big fan of the hit BBC show and even calls himself ‘the Doctor’ on his social media.
“His face was an absolute beauty,” she said.
“Seeing Noah’s face like that was priceless. I’ve never seen his jaw drop or be so quiet.”
Shelly added that she was completely overwhelmed by the support.
“I’m really humbled by the community. The support has been exceptional, and this speaks volumes to what people think of him,” the mother noted. ‘It’s a fantastic feeling that we can do this for Noah.
“As a community we have come together to provide this gift for him, he truly deserves it.”
A Dr Who superfan battling an inoperable brain tumor was left speechless when well-wishers donated £4,500 to give him his very own Dalek for Christmas.
His mother Shelly, 51, said he was a big fan of the hit BBC show and even calls himself ‘the Doctor’ on his social media
Inspired by his courageous attitude as he braved the disease, the community rallied to prepare him for an alien battle against an alien invader – in his garden
When Noah wrote a bucket list of five things he wanted to do, one of them even included getting his own Dalek and meeting Doctor Who actor David Tennant.
Organizer Angela Jones said she was ‘really excited to make his dream come true’ – and that she hoped the gift would ‘really make his heart happy’.
Noah suffers from neurofibromatosis, which means tumors grow on his nerve tissue – and in 2021 he was diagnosed with an inoperable benign tumor in the core of his brain.
Benign tumors are not cancer and do not usually cause any problems, but can be life-threatening if positioned to press on vital nerves.
In 2021, Shelley was full of praise for her son – who is known in the area for his fundraising – and has been remarkable through the tough times.
Despite his treatment, Noah had still managed to raise money for Women’s Aid during the Christmas period that year.
The community has also rallied around the family, with the Severn Tunnel marching band coming to Noah’s front door on Christmas Eve to play carols as they were unable to attend church the year he was diagnosed.
Noah suffers from neurofibromatosis, which means tumors grow on his nerve tissue – and in 2021 he was diagnosed with an inoperable benign tumor in the core of his brain
When Noah wrote a bucket list of five things he wanted to do, one of them even included getting his own Dalek and meeting Doctor Who actor David Tennant. In the photo: Dr. Who in 1979
Chepstow School also organized a Doctor Who day for the teenager, which raised more than £2,300. The money raised was divided between the Brain Tumor Trust and children in need.
Last year Noah was named Young Fundraiser of the Year at the Child of Wales Awards.
And despite suffering brutal treatment, the teenager sat through five final exams, achieving B and C grades – and completed his first year at university, where he is studying drama.
Earlier this year, Shelley said Brain tumor research: ‘I wouldn’t wish a brain tumor on my worst enemy after the diabolical suffering I saw in my son.
‘You’re constantly thinking ‘why him and why not me’, and it makes me physically sick.
‘This disease is random and can affect anyone at any age. We need to campaign for more funding so we can research kinder treatments and ultimately a cure for all types of brain tumors.”