Mike Fowler, 45, has undergone major brain surgery after he was diagnosed with a tumour, and now his son Noah is doing something very special after himself being inspired by his dad's battle.

Mr Fowler, a former professional footballer for Newport County and football coach, first became aware that something was wrong around two years ago.

He said that, “retrospectively”, he could see the symptoms but made “all these different excuses to attribute the symptoms to something else” – something he put down to the tumour that was found in his frontal lobe, or the “decision-making” part of his brain.

Mike called the ordeal the "darkest days" of his life (Image: Supplied)

After experiencing blurred vision and a “bizarre” lack of control of his limbs for periods of time, he attended hospital where ECGs and blood tests would come back clear.

When he experienced seizures, Mr Fowler would take himself to A&E at the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran and insist on undergoing a CT scan as his “body was telling [him] that this is not okay.”

Within half an hour of undergoing the scan on September 4, Mr Fowler was given the news that a large, abnormal, malignant mass measuring 4.7cm was found on his brain and he was told to “get [his] loved ones in to say goodbye.”

He was given a 33 per cent change of survival – something his 13-year-old son Noah said was “like 100 per cent to a normal person” and that he believed his dad would be “fine.”

An emergency 11-hour surgery to remove the tumour would leave Mr Fowler in a high-dependency ward but, remarkably, within seven days he would walk out of the hospital doors himself and return home to continue his recovery.

He said: "It has been the darkest days of my life and the not knowing what the outcome could be was scary.

"The support I’ve had from Noah, my other children Charlee and Corey, my parents, my partner and everyone else that have reached out has been pivotal in my fight for survival.”

Mike's other children Corey and Charlee have provided support (Image: Supplied)

Since the surgery, Mr Fowler has been informed that his tumour is benign but will need constant monitoring and “active rest.”

Now, his son Noah has taken inspiration from his father’s strength and is fundraising for Brainstrust, a charity that supports individuals diagnosed with brain tumours.

The 13-year-old has taken on the ambitious feat of performing 79 kick-ups, 79 times throughout October, to raise awareness and show solidarity with those affected by brain tumours, saying that he is “doing this challenge for my dad because I love him so much, and I want to help make a difference”.

"I hope that by doing this, I can help more people understand brain tumours and how they affect families."

He is appealing for support in any form, whether through donations, sharing his challenge, or simply cheering him on.

Mr Fowler expressed immense pride in his son's initiative and his desire to use his shared passion with his father for good.

He said: “Noah has given me strength. The way he’s articulated his feelings has been incredible. As I grew stronger so did he.

"At thirteen years of age, to handle the diagnosis and subsequent surgery the way he has is remarkable.

Noah said he loves his dad "so much" (Image: Supplied)

"He has been an inspiration to me and a source of strength and motivation.

“I’m really really proud of him.”

Mike also highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and urged others not to ignore symptoms.

He said: "As a person who refused help, refused to go to the doctors and would just say 'I will be okay'. I urge people not to make the same mistake I did and get checked out."

Noah's efforts have already seen him raise a staggering £1,743, far surpassing his initial target of £79. This amounts to 2,205 per cent of his original goal.