CoppaFeel!

CoppaFeel! is a breast cancer awareness charity, based in London.[1] The charity focuses on promoting early detection of breast cancer by encouraging women under 30 to regularly check their breasts.[2]

CoppaFeel!
MottoKnowing your boobs could save your life.
FormationApril 2009 (2009-04)
FounderKristin Hallenga and Maren Hallenga
Founded atLondon
TypeCharitable organisation
PurposeTo give everyone the best possible chance of surviving breast cancer by speaking to young people in their natural habitat.
Headquarters1-4 Pope Street, London SE1 3PR
Location
Coordinates51.499970°N 0.078370°W / 51.499970; -0.078370
Region
United Kingdom
Official language
English
Key people
Natalie Kelly (CEO)
Staff
15
Websitecoppafeel.org

CoppaFeel! is a charity partner of Cosmopolitan magazine.[3]

History


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]

Mission and values

"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]

Campaigns

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]

Media coverage

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]

Festifeel

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]

Celebrity support

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]

References
  1. IOL Lifestyle, 'I never ask how long I've got', Retrieved May 11, 2013
  2. Campaign, Mathew Horne tells cinema goers to 'CoppaFeel!' in breast cancer awareness ad, Retrieved May 11, 2013
  3. Cosmopolitan, CoppaFeel! Archived 2013-11-29 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved May 11, 2013
  4. BBC Radio One Newsbeat, Fearne Cotton meets Coppafeel founder Kris Hallenga, Retrieved - 11 May 2013
  5. The Independent, 'I never ask my doctor how long I've got', Retrieved - May 11, 2013
  6. Metro, Angel of the North Bobbs Hijacked by CoppaFeel! Cancer Charity, Retrieved - May 11, 2013
  7. CoppaFeel!'s Official Website, 'Our Charity and Vision', Retrieved - May 14, 2013
  8. PR Week, Mathew Horne Tells Cinema Goers to CoppaFeel! in Breast Cancer Awareness Ad, Retrieved - May 11, 2013
  9. The Mirror, 'Meet the brilliant Boobettes', Retrieved - May 14, 2013
  10. Huffington Post 'Breast Cancer Awareness: Do You Know What Normal Feels Like?', Retrieved - June 03 2015
  11. Express, 'Women bare their breasts for cancer charity Coppafeel!'s #whatnormalfeelslike campaign', Retrieved - June 03 2015
  12. Coppafeel, Cheknominate, Retrieved - June 3, 2015
  13. Huffington Post, 'Forget Neknominate, Coppafeel! Want Us To Check Our Breasts Using #CHEKNOMINATE', Retrieved - June 3, 2015
  14. BBC, 'Kris: Dying to live', Retrieved - June 03 2015
  15. BBC, 'Lisa Lynch longed for The C Word to be brought to life – it was an honour to be involved', Retrieved - June 03 2015
  16. Fame Magazine, 'Fearne Cotton Presents Festifeel 2012', Retrieved - May 14, 2013
  17. Lomography, 'CoppaFeel! And Get Festival Photo-Passes!', Retrieved - May 14, 2013
  18. 'CoppaFeel! lands in Leeds', Retrieved - May 17, 2013
  19. 'This is Bath, 'CoppaFeel! chosen as official charity for next year's Bath half marathon', Retrieved - May 17, 2013
  20. Campaign, 'Mathew Horne tells cinema goers to 'CoppaFeel!' in breast cancer awareness ad', Retrieved - May 21, 2013
  21. ""I love boobs": Mel B goes topless and reveals she used to fondle the Spice Girls"', Retrieved - May 21, 2013
  22. Independent, 'Why is breast cancer awareness made so sexy?', Retrieved - May 17, 2013
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