CoppaFeel!
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°30′00″N 0°04′42″W / 51.499970°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 breast cancer awareness charity based in London[1] focused on promoting early detection of breast cancer by encouraging women under 30 to regularly check their breasts.[2]

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

History


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

Driven by the difficult experience, the Hallenga sisters launched CoppaFeel! at Beach Break Live in 2009.[5]

Mission and values

CoppaFeel's awareness campaigns are based on increased physical self-awareness and monitoring one's breasts in the hopes of quickly detecting any changes.[6] Most campaign work is carried out at universities, music festivals, schools and work places and via national awareness campaigns around the UK.[5] CoppaFeel!'s ambassadors, called 'the Boobettes', are young women who experienced breast cancer at a young age.[7]

Campaigns

In summer 2014, the organization launched the ‘What Normal Feels Like’ campaign, seeking to reclaim language and imagery associated with breasts.[8] Hundreds of women submitted pictures of their breasts, along with a descriptive word such as “wibbly” or “springy”, later used in a series of advertisements designed to normalise and desexualise female breasts.[9]

CoppaFeel! ran a ‘Cheknominate’ campaign, a “healthier” take on the Neknominate craze.[10] 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 use the hashtag #Cheknominate on social media.[11]

Media coverage

Many of Coppafeel!’s publicity campaigns have involved the use of giant inflatable ‘boob’ costumes.[4] CoppaFeel! gained widespread media coverage after decorating The Angel of the North with a ‘boob hijack’ sticker.[12]

In 2015, CoppaFeel! founder Kristin Hallenga was profiled in Kris: Dying to Live, a documentary about her battle with terminal breast cancer.[13] She also played herself in The C Word, a BBC One adaptation of the book by cancer blogger Lisa Lynch.[14]

Festifeel

CoppaFeel! hosts the annual music festival, Festifeel, helping to raise money for breast cancer awareness.[15] It describes itself as "Britain's only boutique music festival with boobs in mind!".[16]

Celebrity support

The organization's fundraising activities have received support from celebrities, including Fearne Cotton, Russell Howard, Newton Faulkner, Lorraine Kelly and Danni Minogue.[17]

Radio presenters Greg James and Dermot O'Leary ran the 2013 Bath Half Marathon wearing giant inflatable ‘boobs’ in support of CoppaFeel![18]

Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne appeared in a cinema campaign for Coppafeel!, encouraging viewers to check their boobs before the film started.[19]

In September 2012, Mel B posed topless in a Coppafeel! advert in Cosmopolitan magazine ahead of breast cancer awareness month.[20] The advert's risqué nature received mass-media coverage.[21]

References

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