Lorraine Kelly has paid tribute to Kristin Hallenga, who has sadly passed away at the age of 38. The ITV presenter took to Instagram to share her heartfelt condolences for Kristen, who was the founder of the charity Coppafeel!, dedicated to raising awareness for cancer.
In a touching post, Lorraine shared a photo of Kristen appearing on her show and wrote, “SO sad. An amazing young woman who has saved lives.” She continued, “We are very sad to hear the news that Kris Hallenga has died at the age of 38. She appeared on our programme many times over the years campaigning for breast cancer awareness as part of her Coppafeel charity. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time. ‘Trust your body, believe in hope, leave room for miracles.’ – Kris Hallenga.”
Kristen had been battling breast cancer for 15 years since her diagnosis in 2009. Despite her terminal illness, she dedicated her life to promoting the importance of being “alive to do those things” and living life to the fullest with cancer.
The charity’s statement on their website emphasized Kristen’s fearless and creative approach to life, stating, “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 fulfillment and a heart full of love.”
Kristen first noticed symptoms of cancer at the age of 22 when she discovered a lump in her breast. Despite being turned away by her GP for over a year, her diagnosis eventually revealed that she had stage four breast cancer.
Numerous famous figures have also paid tribute to Kristen on social media. Carol Vorderman expressed her sadness, saying, “This is so incredibly sad. Just 38 years old and suffering from breast cancer, Kris Hallenga founder of CoppaFeel! was such an incredibly bright star in the firmament. She was nominated by Cancer Research UK to win her Pride of Britain award in 2017, and it was a joy to meet her. Kris, may you rest in peace.”
Comedian Russell Howard described Kristen as an “awesome, inspirational, life-chasing woman” and expressed how grateful he was to have known her.
The charity Teenage Cancer Trust also extended their condolences, acknowledging the impact of Kristen’s work in highlighting the importance of early chest checks for young people.
For more information and support, you can visit the Breast Cancer Now website.
