Meet the Dalek that is helping doctors – by raising funds for our Trust

In the TV series Doctor Who, the Daleks are often portrayed as The Doctor’s great enemy. But in Derbyshire, a Dalek named Dusty is bucking the trend – by raising money for local NHS mental health services.

Dusty is the creation of Samantha and Adrian Kennedy, from Oakwood, who travel to events up and down the country, entertaining people for free and raising money for our Trust charitable fund.

Adrian squeezes inside Dusty to operate the movements and deliver the clipped, electronic Dalek catchphrases to passers-by, while Samantha – often dressed in a cosplay costume – serves as Dusty’s ‘spotter’, ensuring he moves around safely.

A collecting tin hangs from Dusty’s telescopic arm (known to Whovians as the ‘manipulator arm’) and people are encouraged to give what they can. In the last year, Samantha, Adrian and Dusty have raised over £430, which goes towards activities and equipment for Derbyshire Healthcare patients that can’t be provided through NHS funding.

Samantha said: “We’ve had people follow us all the way through a shopping centre to pop a few coins in the tin, after getting some change from one of the stores. And I’ve had individuals come up and talk to me about their own challenges with mental health, and say how grateful they are that we’re raising money for this cause. They feel, like me, that it’s important that mental health doesn’t get pushed to one side. Even when someone’s dealing with physical health problems, it’s often their mental health that suffers. I know people who work at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and really wanted to support what they do.”    

"A Dalek shell"

The idea to build a Dalek first came to Samantha and Adrian after a visit to a fan convention event at Derby Arena. They got chatting to a couple from Weston-super-Mare who owned four Daleks, and who grew to be friends over the coming months as Adrian began developing Dusty.

“We bought a Dalek shell, really,” says Samantha, “a wooden frame that needed a lot of TLC. Adrian installed a mobility scooter inside – that’s what he sits on and that’s what powers Dusty – and then he sorted out all the electrics, the voice box, even the lights that glow on the floor around the base of the unit. The name ‘Dusty’ was my idea because that’s what the garage was like for nearly a year, while Adrian was working on him – it was a mess!”

"4am starts"

Samantha and Adrian joined a group of Dalek owners and were soon being invited to fan conventions and community events across the country. They will often wake up on an event day at 4am, get in their van (specially purchased for transporting Dusty) and head off up the motorway, so they can arrive in time to set up at the venue at 7am. Says Samantha: “The first half-hour of any event is usually a quiet session for people with sensory needs, and then the crowds start to arrive after that. We will move up and down, with Dusty barking orders and demanding ‘Jaffa Cakes’ – we think that’s a bit friendlier than shouting ‘exterminate’! On more than one occasion, people have popped to a local shop and come back with a pack of Jaffa Cakes for Dusty; they respond to him like he’s alive.” 

For Samantha and Adrian, the event days are long and tiring – but they’re also very rewarding. They’ve met celebrities like Colin Baker and Bonnie Langford, and enjoyed surreal moments – like racing other Daleks up and down a seaside promenade. 

"Sense of community"

But what they value most is the sense of community they’ve found as they travel from city to city. “We’ve chatted with lots of lovely people and made some great friends,” says Samantha. “It’s so nice when people come up and say, ‘we’re building a Dalek now’ or talk about our fundraising. And we love to see the smiles on the faces of lifelong fans when they interact with Dusty.

“By getting out there and connecting with people, it’s been good for our own mental health, too.” 

"A huge difference"

James Sabin, Director of Finance at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re very grateful to Adrian and Samantha, and to everyone who chooses to raise money for our Trust charitable fund. We use these donations to pay for activities and items for our patients, and to support staff, in ways that supplement our NHS funding. These contributions can make a huge difference to people’s wellbeing – so, if you’ve received good care from one of our teams, please consider our charitable fund next time you’re looking for a good cause to donate to.”

Learn more about our charitable fund.

To learn more about Dusty, search for the group set up by Samantha and Adrian’s friends, ‘Daleks of Somerset’, on Facebook.