How to make $breadcrumb available in HEADER region?

For specific reasons I cannot use the delta breadcrumb block. I need to make $breadcrumb available in my
region--header.tpl.php file but it seems like it is only ever available inside the zone--content.tpl.php
file.

Is there a way to make $breadcrumb available in the header zone or region?

I have tried the following:
preprocess-region.inc

function kca_omega_alpha_preprocess_region(&$variables) {
	if ($variables['region'] === 'header_first') {
		$breadcrumb['breadcrumb'] = drupal_get_breadcrumb();
		$variables['breadcrumb'] = theme_breadcrumb($breadcrumb);
		print kpr ($variables); // results in BREADCRUMB = NULL
	}
}

process-region.inc

function kca_omega_alpha_process_region(&$vars) {
  // custom functionality here
	if ($vars['region'] === 'header_first') {
		$breadcrumb['breadcrumb'] = drupal_get_breadcrumb();
		$vars['breadcrumb'] = theme_breadcrumb($breadcrumb);
		print kpr ($vars); // same as above where BREADCRUMB = NULL
	}
}

In both cases if I examine the variables then available to me inside region--header.tpl.php BREADCRUMB is always NULL.

Any help greatly appreciated!