A heartbreaking montage of CoppaFeel! founder Kris Hallenga’s tragically short life has been released by her family after her death at the age of 38.
The campaigner, who was diagnosed with incurable secondary breast cancer at 23 years old, had won hearts with her determination to face her illness head on after being given only two years to live in 2009.
Her passing has sparked an outpouring of sadness among supporters, celebrities and those who her charity has helped get checked early for the disease, saving lives in the process.
After her death was announced this morning Kris’ family released an emotional video celebrating her life and the joy she brought to the world.
The video, set to the song Praise You by Fatboy Slim, features snippets from her childhood in Cornwall as well as her adult years with friends and family as she lived her live to the fullest.
A video montage posted on Kris Hallenga’s Instagram celebrated the cancer campaigner’s life. This clip showed her sitting in a picturesque flower meadow
It also included snippets of her childhood, including this clip of her blowing out candles on a birthday cake with her twin sister Maren
There tribute sparked a fresh outpouring of grief after it was announced Kris (pictured here as a child) had died at the age of 38
In the footage, which was posted to her Instagram page, a young Kris can be seen enjoying face painting, eating ice cream and blowing out the candles on a birthday cake with her twin sister Maren.
It goes onto show her battle with cancer, including when she had to shave her head as part of undergoing treatment, interspersed with happier moments.
These include dances at weddings, cycling trips no matter if it was rain or shine, and holidays which saw her diving into picturesque lakes and wonder down idyllic beaches.
It also celebrated her professional achievements, with the video captioned ‘even the most unpolishable turds are glitterable’, a reference to her bestselling book Glittering a Turd.
The video sparked tributes to the beloved campaigner online, as people posted their memories of Kris.
Comedian Russell Howard, who invited Kris as a guest on his Good News programme in 2014 to talk about her cancer diagnosis and charity work, wrote: ‘What an awesome, inspirational, life chasing woman. An absolute pleasure to have known you kris.’
BBC Radio presenter Adele Roberts, who has previously battled bowel cancer, posted a love heart, a dove and a celebration emoji as she paid tribute to the joy Kris brought to life.
Television presenter Kate Thornton wrote: ‘Sending love to all who loved her, of which there were so many. A remarkable woman. Safe travels Kris.’
In this adorable image from the video Kris is seen as a child in a cute pink hoodie with whiskers painted on her face
The Cornish native videoed herself walking on idyllic beaches as she enjoyed life to the fullest
In other clips she was seen jumping into lakes with family as she indulged her love of cold water swimming
She also posted goofy videos with her friends, including one of them all singing in sync
The video also included heartfelt scenes of Kris having fun with twin sister Maren and the rest of her family and friends
Kris had taught a generation how to make sure breast cancer is diagnosed early and accurately, while determined to face her illness head-on.
She set up the charity Coppafeel! with her twin sister Maren, with the organisation creating checking tools, projecting onto the Houses of Parliament, and showing the first nipple on a billboard.
The charity 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 Turd, a book which details how she discovered her life after being told she would die.
In a statement on X, CoppaFeel! said this morning: ‘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.’
It added: ‘In 2009 Kris was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at the age of 23, after being turned away from her GP for over a year.
‘By the time she was diagnosed, it was terminal. Kris’ ambition was for no one else to find themselves in her position and so CoppaFeel! was born, to ensure breast cancers are diagnosed early and accurately.
CoppaFeel! founder Kris Hallenga (pictured), who had stage four breast cancer, has died aged 38
The campaigner was first diagnosed in 2009 with incurable secondary breast cancer and given a life expectancy of just two years
‘Kris has reached millions of people with her message of health 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, received an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Nottingham Trent University and wrote a Times Best Selling book: Glittering a Turd.
‘Kris’ life mission was that CoppaFeel! would no longer need to exist, with late diagnosis of breast cancer eradicated in her lifetime. We are committed to continuing Kris’ legacy, to ensure that everyone has the best chance of living a happy and healthy life. If you’d like to support this mission, you can donate here.’
The charity 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’ family have one request – for peace and privacy to allow them the time and space needed to process Kris’ death. 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.
‘Trust your body, believe in hope, leave room for miracles.’ Kris Hallenga.
‘With love from all at CoppaFeel! HQ x.’
A post about Kris’s death was made on behalf of her cat Lady Marmalade (pictured)
Kris made a conscious decision to face her illness head-on and seize every opportunity
Kris, left, was initially given just two years to live but has defied the odds
In May last year, Kris revealed her plan to stage a ‘living funeral’ so she could get ‘drunk on love and gratitude’ before she dies.
Next to an image of her with her cat Lady Marms, the best-selling author wrote: ‘YODO (you only die once).
‘I have done a thing. I’ve made a pretty big decision to have a living funeral, a FUNeral to be precise, before I die.
‘I want to be present at the event where my people have a thing or two to say about me, where I have the opportunity to show how much they mean to me, to be drunk on love and gratitude for having these people in my life and to toast to my rich and beautiful existence.’
Kris went on to say that she had never been to a living funeral so would be making it up as she went along, but that it had already been an ‘enormously emotional ride’ and reflected on what a privilege it was to be in this position.
