Kris Hallenga, founder of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, dies aged 38
Kris Hallenga’s dream was that one day her charity would no longer need to exist and that late diagnosis of breast cancer might be eradicated in her lifetime – Paul Grover for The Telegraph
Kris Hallenga, the founder of breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!, has died aged 38 after 15 years of living with the disease.
In 2009, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at the age of 23, after being turned away from her GP for more than a year. By the time she was diagnosed, it was terminal.
A statement on the charity’s website said: “Kris was the biggest promoter of being ‘alive to do those things’.
“She approached life in a wildly creative, fun and fearless way, and showed us that it is possible to live life to the full with cancer.”
It added: “For 15 years Kris had been living with secondary breast cancer. She hasn’t lost a battle, she wasn’t in a fight and she certainly wouldn’t want you to see her death as tragic.
“She was simply living. She was 38 and died with fulfilment and a heart full of love.”
Kris Hallenga (centre) at an event celebrating the fifth birthday of CoppaFeel! in 2014 – Joe Pepler/Shutterstock
Ms Hallenga had said that CoppaFeel! was born because she was never told to check herself and she did not know she could get breast cancer at 23.
It then became the mission of the charity to educate young people about why they should start checking from an earlier age so that all breast cancer is diagnosed early.
Her dream was that one day CoppaFeel! would no longer need to exist and late diagnosis of breast cancer might be eradicated in her lifetime.
With this in mind she campaigned for cancer education to be included in the school curriculum and wrote Glittering A Turd, which went on to become a best-selling book.
Kris Hallenga (right) with Fearne Cotton at the ‘Festifeel’ breast cancer charity event in 2019 – Phil Lewis/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
She won the Women of the Year Outstanding Young Campaigner award and received an honorary doctorate in public administration from Nottingham Trent University.
Those at CoppaFeel! who affectionately described her as “our founder, boob chief, colleague, friend and queen of glittering turds”, are “committed to continuing Kris’ legacy, to ensure that everyone has the best chance of living a happy and healthy life”, the statement added.
Ms Hallenga’s family have requested privacy.
The statement adds: “We would like to thank our community for your love and messages of support and kindly ask that you respect the family’s wishes at this time.
“Please remember the amazing life Kris led and the things she achieved, but above all else honour her memory by checking your chest… it could just save your life.”
Read her final interview
‘My eulogy was beautiful’: Kris Hallenga on throwing her own funeral
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