In 2009, 23-year-old Kris Hallenga was travelling the world, falling in love and making plans. Then she found a lump – and was told that she had incurable breast cancer.
Although Kris will always live with cancer, she wanted to get the message out there to young people that catching cancer early equals a higher chance of recovery. She wanted people to learn from her story and become proactive about their health. And so, her awe-inspiringly successful charity, CoppaFeel! was born. From visiting Downing Street to witnessing the birth of her nephew, in the face of all the possible prognoses, Kris has been surviving, thriving, and resolutely living for the past twelve years.
As this post-lockdown summer gets into full swing, and with it, a busy schedule, our LOUD & QUIET series explores how to find serene moments – to unwind and savour some solitude.
From the ‘loud’ of long hospital waits and mindless scrolling on social media to the ‘quiet’ of lying in her hammock or lighting a candle, Kris tells us how she finds calm amongst the chaos – and what role nature plays in learning to live a quieter life.
Kris’ book, Glittering a Turd, is available for pre-order now and will be released on 19thAugust.
