Nellie Gbadebo, a 26-year-old London mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer just three months after giving birth to her daughter Anneliese. She described the diagnosis as 'terrifying' and overwhelming, as she faced invasive treatments, postpartum depression, and caring for a newborn simultaneously.
Diagnosis and Early Struggles
Gbadebo said: 'Being told I had breast cancer at 26 with a tiny baby in my arms was terrifying – I remember how overwhelming it felt trying to make sense of that information as well as managing my own misconceptions about cancer.' She underwent aggressive treatment while grappling with the emotional and physical toll of cancer and new motherhood.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Now in remission, Gbadebo has become a cancer advocate. She founded Touchy-Feely, a community supporting Black women affected by cancer, aiming to address the lack of tailored support and misinformation. She partnered with ScottishPower to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, participating in the Pretty Muddy Race for Life event in Manchester.
'That’s a big part of why I started Touchy-Feely. Too many Black women face cancer without the right support around them, and misinformation can make an already frightening experience even harder,' Gbadebo said. 'Pretty Muddy is about doing something brave together – turning fear into action.'
Partnership and Fundraising Impact
Andrew Ward, CEO of ScottishPower’s customer business, stated: 'It’s fantastic to partner with Nellie and her incredibly powerful story as she completed Pretty Muddy in Manchester. She’s taken her difficult personal experience and channelled it into an online community that helps people experiencing cancer feel seen and supported.'
ScottishPower’s partnership with Cancer Research UK has raised over £45 million since 2012. Eve Mitchell, associate director of supporter relationships at Cancer Research UK, noted: 'In the past 50 years, our research has helped double cancer survival in the UK. Nellie is a brilliant example of those who’ve benefited from the latest treatments finding ways to help more people survive cancer than ever before.'
Gbadebo encourages others to support life-saving research, emphasizing that every obstacle and muddy moment brings closer a world where more people survive cancer.
