CoppaFeel!

CoppaFeel! was founded in 2009 by twin sisters Kristin and Maren Hallenga, after Kristin was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 23.[4] Because of a late diagnosis, Kristin Hallenga lives with stage four breast cancer. Despite Hallenga's having a family history of cancer, doctors originally dismissed a tumor on Kristin's breast as “hormonal”.[1]

Driven by the difficult experience, Kristin and Maren, devoted themselves to educating young women about the dangers of late diagnosis, and launched CoppaFeel! at Beach Break Live in 2009.[5]

"I want everyone to know that cancer doesn’t conform to the over-40s rule we try to impose on it; and that getting to know your boobs from a young age, and making checking them regularly a habit of a lifetime you could save your life one day."

- Kristin Hallenga.[6]

"...to live in a world where all breast cancers are diagnosed at the earliest stage possible, at which treatments are more effective and survival rates are higher."

- CoppaFeel!'s vision statement.[7]

Much of their awareness campaigns are based on the principle that the more that an individual is aware of their own breasts, the more likely they are to spot a change – should one occur.[8] Most of their awareness work is carried out at universities, music festivals, schools and work places and via national awareness campaigns around the UK.[5] CoppaFeel!'s ambassadors are called 'the Boobettes', who are young women that have all had the disease at a young age.[9]

Over the past few years, CoppaFeel! have instigated several high-profile breast cancer awareness campaigns.

In summer 2014 they launched their ‘What Normal Feels Like’ campaign, which seeks to reclaim the language and imagery associated with breasts.[10] Hundreds of women have submitted pictures of their breasts, along with a descriptive word such as “wibbly” or “springy”, which have been used in a series of advertisements designed to normalise and desexualise female breasts.[11]

CoppaFeel! have also run a ‘Cheknominate’ campaign, which was their “healthier” take on the Neknominate craze.[12] Cheknominate encouraged people to record themselves checking their breasts before nominating a friend to do the same. The Huffington Post were supportive of the campaign, and encouraged their readers to try to get the hashtag #Cheknominate trending on social media.[13]

Many of Coppafeel!’s publicity campaigns have involved the use of giant inflatable ‘boob’ costumes.[4]

CoppaFeel! gained widespread media coverage when they a decorated The Angel of the North with a ‘boob hijack’ sticker.[6]

In 2015 CoppaFeel! founder Kristin Hallenga was profiled in Kris: Dying to Live, a documentary that covered her battle with terminal breast cancer.[14] She also played herself in The C Word, a BBC One adaptation of the book by cancer blogger Lisa Lynch.[15]

CoppaFeel! host the annual music festival, Festifeel, helping to raise money for breast cancer awareness.[16] It describes itself as "Britain's only boutique music festival with boobs in mind!".[17]

Their innovative fundraising activities have received widespread support from celebrities including Fearne Cotton, Russell Howard, Newton Faulkner, Lorraine Kelly and Danni Minogue.[18]

Radio presenters Greg James and Dermot O'Leary both ran the 2013 Bath Half Marathon, wearing giant inflatable ‘boobs’, in support of CoppaFeel![19]

Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne appeared in a cinema campaign for Coppafeel!, encouraging viewers to check out their boobs before the film started.[20]

In September 2012 Mel B posed topless in a Coppafeel! advert in Cosmopolitan magazine, ahead of breast cancer awareness month.[21] The advert's risqué nature received mass-media coverage.[22]

• Official website
• CoppaFeel! on Twitter