Nellie Gbadebo was left battling invasive treatments and postpartum depression, all while trying to raise a new baby
A London mum has described her feelings of terror and being overwhelmed when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness just weeks after giving birth. Nellie Gbadebo was just 26 when doctors told her she had breast cancer.
That came just three months after she had given birth to her beautiful baby girl, Anneliese. She was left grappling not only with her cancer diagnosis, but also invasive treatments, postpartum depression, and a new baby – all at the same time.
Nellie 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.
Inspirational Nellie is now a cancer advocate, teaming up with energy company ScottishPower to raise money and awareness. The influencer is turning her story into a power for good to inspire and support others, founding Touchy-Feely, a community that supports Black women affected by cancer.
Currently in remission, she joined ScottishPower on its mission to help beat cancer with Cancer Research UK – teaming up with ScottishPower employees to tackle the charity’s 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. That’s why the work of Cancer Research UK is so vital – and so powerful. It really matters.
“Pretty Muddy is about doing something brave together – turning fear into action and I can totally relate to that. I’m proud to be fundraising with the brilliant team at ScottishPower. Today’s experience was incredible from start to finish. I’m so proud to say I’ve crossed that finish line in Manchester, and I honestly couldn’t have done it without the most amazing support along the way.
“Every obstacle and every muddy moment was another step closer to helping raise money for life-saving research that could help ensure more people come out the other side of their cancer journey, like me.”
Andrew Ward, CEO of ScottishPower’s customer business, said: “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.
“Our partnership with Cancer Research UK is a really meaningful one – backing vital research to help people like Nellie survive cancer and inspiring people across the UK to take action. Since our partnership with the charity started in 2012, we’ve raised over £45 million for research to help beat cancer. That’s a life-saving and a life-changing level of support and we won’t stop there.”
Eve Mitchell, associate director of supporter relationships at Cancer Research UK, said: “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.
“Through long-term partnerships, like the one we have with ScottishPower, the money they raise is helping bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
To find out more about ScottishPower’s partnership and support of Cancer Research UK, please visit: scottishpower.com
