As a nation, we are humble. Brits are simply not a braggy people and have a tendency to downplay achievements, sometimes to the point of self-deprecation. Many of us are hopeless when it comes to self-promotion or celebrating our triumphs.
Following a national call-out for nominations, leading ready-to-drink protein shake brand, For Goodness Shakes, has identified eight unsung heroes worthy of the spotlight and is bringing them out of the shadows and into a dedicated ‘Portraits of Today’s Everyday Heroes’ exhibition to showcase their personal successes, whilst also helping to provide inspiration for those on their own journeys of growth.
With an inspiring story, defying the odds, Meels Ellery, 30, from Bristol stood out as an Everyday Hero due to her resilience and determination following a childhood diagnosis of a rare heart condition and brain anuerism, but also for her selflessness and commitment to providing a network, safe space, and support system for hundreds of women in and around Bristol via her dedicated online community (read Meels’s full story below).
Portraits of Today’s Everyday Heroes, open for one month only at the Mash Paddle Brewery in Bermondsey, London, from Friday 14 February–Thursday 13 March 2025, is an initiative inspired by a collaboration between For Goodness Shakes - fuelling everyone’s inner hero for over 20 years - and Marvel Studios, to mark the release of the hotly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World, this 14 February.
Echoing the movie themes of resilience, perseverance, grit, strength and evolution, the For Goodness Shakes’ real-life Everyday Heroes selected to feature in the exhibition have shown determination, have achieved goals despite the odds, have demonstrated kindness, generosity or selflessness, or have worked hard to bring about change or help others.
Their efforts and accomplishments represent those that are carried out every day by millions of Brits and serve as an inspiration to us all to persevere, do good, and be the best versions of ourselves.
“Selecting our heroes was such a difficult task,” says Philippa Milburn, Brand Manager at For Goodness Shakes. “We received so many inspiring and heartening nominations, which, as well as triggering lots of emotion, brought a tangible sense of optimism and hope.
“Our Everyday Heroes’ stories are a true reflection of the incredible things Brits do every single day, and an important reminder of the power of humanity, of integrity, of courage, of determination, of kindness, and of community, at a time when our news feeds can feel overwhelmingly distressing.
“And that’s exactly what we wanted to achieve with this project; to demonstrate that we can all be heroes and can all make a difference to benefit or support others’ lives and experiences or our own.”
Alongside the Bermondsey exhibition, the portraits - shot by photographer, David Wren - and individual Everyday Hero stories feature in a dedicated web gallery on the For Goodness Shakes website. Visitors to the page can also donate to social action charity, Volunteering Matters, which brings people together to overcome some of society's most complex issues through the power of volunteering.
“Our charity partner for the Everyday heroes project, Volunteering Matters,” adds Milburn, “aligns so perfectly with the themes of the campaign. Helping individuals and communities thrive through the vital contribution of place-based volunteering, their work is proactively creating the Everyday Heroes of tomorrow.”
The framed portraits hung in the gallery will be gifted to the Everyday Heroes featured in them once the exhibition comes to a close on 13 March.
Meels’s story.
Born in Bristol, Meels (Amelia) was an active child and played sport to a high level, including running for her county and being part of a football academy. At 12 years old the active life she led was taken away from her overnight.
Diagnosed with an incredibly rare heart condition (Middle Aortic Syndrome) and a brain aneurism, she was told by doctors that it was too dangerous to continue with her sporting pursuits. At the time of her diagnosis, only one other in the UK had the condition and since then, she’s sadly passed away from her aneurism.
It’s what Meels has done with her life and her passions for sport and helping others which has led to her nomination. “As soon as I saw the Everyday Heroes campaign on social media, Meels instantly came to mind.” Said partner, Lauren, who nominated her.
“I first started following Meels on social media. I was in a bad relationship, my confidence was extremely low, and I was trying to lose weight. I started doing her live workouts on Instagram, my confidence grew, and I lost six stone in weight thanks to Meels. She has always been my biggest cheerleader, and I know she is for so many others too.”
As Meels entered her adolescent years she realised just how important sport and exercise had been, not just to her physical health but her mental health too. Going against medical advice and her parents’ natural protectiveness, she began to train and focus on her fitness, which she continued during her Business degree. Ultimately, sport was her calling, and she applied her passion to become a PT.
Once qualified, Meels relocated to Manchester for work and became friends and shared a house with another PT. In a devastating turn of events, Meels’s friend took his own life. Suicide has been present several times throughout her life, affecting loved ones to such an extent that she realised just how delicate mental health can be, and how hidden it can be too.
Recognising that mental health is more important than anything else, she set out on a mission to help as many people as she could, by giving her time, her support and her expertise as a PT. Meels has created a community of hundreds of women in and around Bristol, some who train with her, others who follow her on social media for fitness inspiration and advice, others who attend her weekend events.
“When she isn’t working, or running the weekend clubs, she spends so much of her free time replying to people’s messages on socials, giving them help and advice, and also on the growing community Whatsapp group, which has become a safe place for people to ask questions, whether they are fitness related, health related or questions about babies," said Lauren.
Meels runs weekend events once or twice a month, often self-funded. From run clubs and hikes to coffee meet ups and pumpkin painting, these have grown over time and appeal in particular to women going through big life shifts, moving cities to start a family, for example, and struggling to find a community and make friends in adult life.
Lauren adds: “Having someone in your corner, backing you, encouraging you, is so important, and Meels is that person to hundreds of women. It can be really lonely being an adult, and trying to make new friends, but having similar interests makes it easier and Meels provides that network and support system for friendships to be made.
She encourages people to believe in themselves, and it’s made such an incredible difference to so many people's lives. She’s at the helm of this Bristol-based community, and she’s doing it all for them. The community she’s built is definitely the most important part of her day. She wants to be present in their journey and as a result they all really look up to her.”
Meels continues to see specialist doctors who monitor her condition and as her heart condition worsens, she’ll continue to take medication. Despite the health challenges she is still faced with, she remains hopeful. “I try to have a positive outlook on life and focus on the things that I can do. I was first told that exercise was dangerous, doctors warned me against it, but I have seen how my body has been able to adapt and is strong and better for it.”
Lauren adds: “She is super determined, she says yes to everything and lives for each day. I think the reason she says yes is because she can, right there in the moment, knowing that at some point in the future she might not be able to say yes, due to her health.”
When sharing thoughts on what motivates her and what she’s overcome, Meels said: “I work with and support so many people. Each one faces their own challenges and struggles every day. It’s the knowledge of this that reminds me my struggles are not unique and that has given me the confidence to be myself and live life as myself each day.
"This confidence has helped me be open and come out as gay, something I didn’t do for a long time. It’s important people see past the ‘Instagram perfect world’ and recognise that everyone is faced with something they are trying to deal with or overcome.”
When asked what others could do to tap into and bring out their inner hero, Meels said: “If everyone focused on building their own confidence the world would be a better place. Nastiness and negativity come from low self-esteem and confidence. If everyone strived to be more confident, happiness would follow, and the world would be a kinder place.”