Kris Hallenga, the charity’s founder CoppaFeel!which raises awareness of the importance of young women checking their breasts for early signs of cancer, has died aged 38 after being diagnosed with the disease 15 years ago.
The Cornish campaigner was 23 when she received the news that she had stage 4 cancer which had spread to her spine.
She founded the charity CoppaFeel! in a field at a festival. It became one of the leading cancer awareness charities, encouraging millions of young women to check their breasts and creating monitoring tools. The message was projected onto the Houses of Parliament and also included the display of the first nipple on a billboard.
In a 2021 interview with the Guardian, Hallenga said she was motivated by being “confused and bewildered” when diagnosed.
“I kept thinking: this is nonsense. Why didn’t anyone tell me to check my breasts? Why didn’t I know I could get breast cancer at 23? I’m pretty sure my friends don’t know either, and if none of us know, then literally no young person in this country knows this secret. This has to change.’ And I had a surge of energy,” she said.
Together with her twin sister Maren, Hallenga saw the charity grow into the third most recognized cancer charity in Britain, and one that “really saved lives, which blows my mind all the time”, she said in the interview.
Hallenga won a Pride of Britain award for her campaign after being nominated by Cancer Research UK. In 2017, she stepped aside as CEO of CoppaFeel! to move to Cornwall and spend more time with her sister and write a memoir, Glittering a Turd.
In a statement, CoppaFeel! said: “We share the sad news that our founder, boob chief, colleague, friend and queen of sparkly turds, Kris, has passed away. Kris was the biggest promoter of ‘being alive to do those things’. She approached life in an incredibly creative, fun and fearless way and showed us that it is possible to live fully with cancer.
“In 2009, Kris was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at the age of 23, after being sent away from her GP for over a year. By the time she was diagnosed, it was terminal. Kris’ ambition was that no one else would be in her position and so CoppaFeel! was born, to ensure that breast cancer is diagnosed early and accurately.
“Kris has reached millions of people with her message of healthcare advocacy and empowerment, successfully campaigned for cancer education to be included in the school curriculum, won the Women of the Year Outstanding Young Campaigner Award and has a received an honorary doctorate in public administration from Nottingham Trent. University and wrote a Times bestseller: Glittering a Turd.
“Kris’ mission in life was that CoppaFeel! should no longer have to exist, now that the late diagnosis of breast cancer has been eradicated in her lifetime. We are committed to continuing Kris’ legacy, ensuring everyone has the best chance at a happy and healthy life. If you would like to support this mission, you can donate here.
“Kris had been living with secondary breast cancer for 15 years. She didn’t lose a battle, she didn’t fight, and she certainly wouldn’t want you to view her death as tragic. She just lived. She was 38 and died with satisfaction and a heart full of love.
“Please remember the amazing life Kris lived and the things she accomplished, but above all honor her memory by looking down at your chest… it could just save your life.”