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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