Inspirational influencer and cancer advocate Nellie Gbadebo has teamed up with energy company ScottishPower to raise money and awareness as she prepares to take on the ultimate obstacle course at Pretty Muddy Manchester in support of Cancer Research UK.
Kent-based Nellie was left completely shocked in 2023 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26 and just three months after giving birth to her beautiful baby girl, Anneliese. The mum of three struggled to navigate invasive treatments, postpartum depression and a new baby – all at the same time.
Nellie turned 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’s joining 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
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.
“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 and can’t wait to share the whole journey with my friends and followers, from training days to the finish line in Manchester.

“Every obstacle and every muddy moment will be 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 ScottishPower’s Customer business, said: “It’s fantastic to partner with Nellie and her incredibly powerful story ahead of 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.”