Amy Dowden 'probably wouldn't be here' without CoppaFeel! founder Kris Hallenga

Virgin Radio

7 May 2024, 11:55

Amy Dowden has shared she doesn’t think she would necessarily have survived her recent cancer had it not been for CoppaFeel!’s founder Kris Hallenga and her charity campaign.

Hallenga died on Monday, 6th May, aged 38 after living with terminal secondary breast cancer for 15 years. 

Speaking today (7th May) on Lorraine about Hallenga and her charity, Dowden explained how going on a CoppaFeel! fundraising trek with Giovanna Fletcher led to her eventually discovering her own breast cancer.

On the trek, the Strictly Come Dancing star explained she realised the irony that she was raising an awareness for something she didn’t do herself.

“I was speaking to the most wonderful trekkers, and I realised: ‘I’m here advertising, raising awareness to check yourselves, and I don’t even check myself!’” she shared. “From that trek I started to check myself, and just a few months later I found my lump.

“If it wasn’t for CoppaFeel!, if it wasn’t for Kris, I probably wouldn’t be sat here right now,” the professional dancer then frankly admitted. 

Remembering Hallenga on the morning show, Dowden said: “I think she was always so positive… she always said she wasn’t on a battle, she wasn’t on a fight. And I think all that she did to raise awareness - like Deborah [James], you know, BowelBabe - I think it’s what inspired me as well to speak out.”

The dancer then celebrate how Hallenga’s message that women know their own bodies and that if they notice something seems off they should go to a GP will live on as a powerful legacy through her charity. 

“We’ll never know how many lives she saved,” Lorraine reflected during her show, to which Dowden added: “And she’s going to continue to save these lives as well.”

Remembering Hallenga on her Instagram stories, the dancer shared “What a woman! What a difference she has and will continue to make!”