Strictly Come Dancing prima Amy Dowden has paid a heartbreaking tribute to CoppaFeel laminitis Kris Hallenga aft she died from bosom cancer aged 38.
The Welsh Strictly pro, 33, was diagnosed with signifier 3 bosom crab past May, revealing earlier this twelvemonth that her latest cancer check-up showed 'no evidence' of the disease.
Touching photos amusement Amy taking portion successful the Pembrokeshire trek which raised thousands for women with bosom cancer.
The dancer revealed it was not until she went connected the trek that she realised - acknowledgment to Kris's foundation CoppaFeel - that she should beryllium checking her breasts for signs of cancer.
Kris died aft 15 years of surviving with the disease, having been diagnosed successful 2009 aged 23 and fixed a beingness expectancy of 2 years. Her foundation taught a procreation of women however to marque definite bosom crab is diagnosed aboriginal and accurately.
Speaking connected the Lorraine amusement today, Amy said: 'I did the Pembrokeshire trek and it was connected that trek [that] I was speaking to the astir fantastic trekers. I realised I'm here, advertising, raising consciousness to cheque yourselves and I don't adjacent cheque myself.
'So from that trek, I started to cheque myself and conscionable a fewer months later, I recovered my lump. And truthful if it wasn't for CoppaFeel, if it wasn't for Kris, I astir apt wouldn't beryllium sat present close now.'
Photos amusement Amy Dowden (left) taking portion successful the Pembrokeshire trek which raised thousands for women with bosom cancer
Amy appeared connected the Lorraine amusement to wage a heartbreaking tribute to CoppaFeel laminitis Kris Hallenga
Kris Hallenga, 38, (pictured) has died aft 15 years of surviving with secondary bosom cancer
Before her death, Kris revealed she was motivated to commencement CoppaFeel aft being 'confused and baffled' erstwhile diagnosed with the disease.
'I kept reasoning this is b*******. Why didn't anyone archer maine to cheque my boobs? Why didn't I know I could get bosom crab astatine 23? I'm beauteous definite my friends don't cognize either, and if nary of america bash past virtually nary young idiosyncratic successful this state f****** knows this secret. This needs to change. And I got this question of energy,' she told the Guardian successful 2021.
After her diagnosis successful 2009, Kris founded CoppaFeel with her duplicate sister Maren, and watched the foundation turn to go the 3rd astir recognised crab foundation successful the UK.
In a connection astir her death, CoppaFeel said yesterday: 'We stock the bittersweet quality that our founder, boob chief, colleague, person and queen of glittering turds, Kris, has died.
'Kris approached beingness successful a creative, amusive and fearless way, showing america that it is imaginable to unrecorded beingness to the afloat with cancer.'
CoppaFeel has a immense pursuing connected societal media and encourages pistillate to cheque their breasts for signs of cancer.
Kris is the best-selling writer of Glittering A Turd, a publication which details however she discovered her beingness aft being told she would die.
In its statement, CoppaFeel added: 'In 2009 Kris was diagnosed with secondary bosom crab astatine the property of 23, aft being turned distant from her GP for implicit a year.
Kris (right) told however she founded foundation CoppaFeel with her duplicate sister Maren (left) due to the fact that she was ne'er told however to cheque for bosom cancer
The campaigner was archetypal diagnosed successful 2009 with incurable secondary bosom crab and fixed a beingness expectancy of conscionable 2 years
Kris made a conscious determination to look her unwellness head-on and prehend each opportunity
Kris is the best-selling writer of Glittering A Turd, seen present with an advert for her publication which details however she discovered her beingness aft being told she would die
'By the clip she was diagnosed, it was terminal. Kris' ambition was for nary 1 other to find themselves successful her presumption and truthful CoppaFeel! was born, to guarantee bosom cancers are diagnosed aboriginal and accurately.
'Kris has reached millions of radical with her connection of wellness advocacy and empowerment, successfully campaigned for crab acquisition to beryllium included successful the schoolhouse curriculum, won the Women of the Year Outstanding Young Campaigner award, received an Honorary Doctorate successful Public Administration from Nottingham Trent University and wrote a Times Best Selling book: Glittering a Turd.
'Kris' beingness ngo was that CoppaFeel! would nary longer request to exist, with precocious diagnosis of bosom crab eradicated successful her lifetime. We are committed to continuing Kris' legacy, to guarantee that everyone has the champion accidental of surviving a blessed and steadfast life. If you'd similar to enactment this mission, you tin donate here.'
The foundation added: 'For 15 years Kris had been surviving with secondary bosom cancer. She hasn't mislaid a battle, she wasn't successful a combat and she surely wouldn't privation you to spot her decease arsenic tragic. She was simply living. She was 38 and died with fulfilment and a bosom afloat of love.
Kris' household person 1 petition – for bid and privateness to let them the clip and abstraction needed to process Kris' death. We would similar to convey our assemblage for your emotion and messages of enactment and kindly inquire that you respect the family's wishes astatine this time.
'Please retrieve the astonishing beingness Kris led and the things she achieved, but supra each other honour her representation by checking your chest…it could conscionable prevention your life.
'Trust your body, judge successful hope, permission country for miracles.' Kris Hallenga.
'With emotion from each astatine CoppaFeel! HQ x.'
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