Strictly star Amy Dowden pays heartbreaking tribute to CoppaFeel founder Kris ... trends now
Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has paid a heartbreaking tribute to CoppaFeel founder Kris Hallenga after she died from breast cancer aged 38.
The Welsh Strictly pro, 33, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in May 2023, revealing earlier this year that her latest cancer check-up showed 'no evidence' of the disease.
Touching photos show Amy taking part in the Pembrokeshire trek which raised thousands for women with breast cancer.
The dancer revealed it was not until she went on the trek that she realised - thanks to Kris's charity CoppaFeel - that she should be checking her breasts for signs of cancer.
Kris died after 15 years of living with the disease, having been diagnosed in 2009 aged 23 and given a life expectancy of two years. Her charity taught a generation of women how to make sure breast cancer is diagnosed early and accurately.
Speaking on the Lorraine show today, Amy said: 'I did the Pembrokeshire trek and it was on that trek [that] I was speaking to the most wonderful trekers. I realised I'm here, advertising, raising awareness to check yourselves and I don't even check myself.
'So from that trek, I started to check myself and just a few months later, I found my lump. And so if it wasn't for CoppaFeel, if it wasn't for Kris, I probably wouldn't be sat here right now.'
Photos show Amy Dowden (left) taking part in the Pembrokeshire trek which raised thousands for women with breast cancer
Amy appeared on the Lorraine show to pay a heartbreaking tribute to CoppaFeel founder Kris Hallenga
Kris Hallenga, 38, (pictured) has died after 15 years of living with secondary breast cancer
Before her death, Kris revealed she was motivated to start CoppaFeel after 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.
In a statement about her death,
