The campaigner who inspired thousands of women to check for signs of breast ... trends now
Kris Hallenga told how she founded charity CoppaFeel with her twin sister because her fatal tumour was only spotted when it was too late.
The campaigner, 38, has died after 15 years of living with secondary breast cancer, having been diagnosed in 2009 aged 23 and given a life expectancy of two years.
Kris used her charity to teach a generation of women how to make sure breast cancer is diagnosed early and accurately.
Before her death, Kris revealed she had been motivated by being 'confused and baffled' when diagnosed with the disease.
'I kept thinking this is b*******. Why didn't anyone tell me to check my boobs? 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 do then literally no young person in this country f****** knows this secret. This needs to change. And I got this wave of energy,' she told the Guardian in 2021.
After her diagnosis in 2009, Kris founded CoppaFeel with her twin sister Maren, and watched the charity grow to become the third most recognised cancer charity in the UK.
Kris Hallenga, 38, (pictured) has died after 15 years of living with secondary breast cancer
Kris (right) told how she founded charity CoppaFeel with her twin sister Maren (left) because she was never told how to check for breast cancer
In a statement about her death, CoppaFeel said yesterday: 'We share the sad news that our founder, boob chief, colleague, friend and queen of glittering turds, Kris, has died.
'Kris approached life in a creative, fun and fearless way, showing us that it is possible to live life to the full with cancer.'
CoppaFeel has a huge following on social media and encourages woman to check their breasts for signs of cancer.
Kris is the best-selling author of Glittering A
