CHRIS Hoy and his brave wife Sarra have decided not to tell their kids about her incurable MS as the family face a double tragedy.
The strong couple already had to break it to youngsters Callum and Chloe, 10 and seven, that their hero dad had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Hoy with wife Sarra and kids Callum and Chloe in 2018[/caption]
Hoy winning gold at the Men’s Sprint Final at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games[/caption]
Chris Hoy and wife Sarra attend the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2021[/caption]
Hoy and Sarra after he won the team sprint final during day six of the London 2012 Olympic Games[/caption]
Six-time Olympic gold medallist Hoy, 48, described the dinner conversation at the start of the year as the “hardest thing I’ve ever done“.
And in an attempt to shield their children, Hoy and Sarra are keeping her health battles to themselves.
Sarra is undergoing low risk, less effective treatments for her condition instead of more potentially effective, but riskier, new treatments, it is reported.
Within the space of three months, the Hoy family were dealt two shocking blows.
In September 2023, a doctor delivered the awful news to Hoy that he had Stage 4 cancer.
What started out as a tumour in his shoulder, the primary cancer was located in his prostate.
It had then unfortunately spread to his bones, pelvis, hip, spine, shoulder and rib.
Medics have given Hoy two to four years to live.
The 40-year-old mum-of-two was then diagnosed with a “very reactive and aggressive” type of MS just before Christmas that same year.
Sarra’s condition was spotted when she went for a scan after experiencing a tingling sensation in her face and tongue.
Now, some days are worse than others – with Sarra struggling to fit the key in the door at times.
Hoy recalled telling his children that no-one lives for ever but he hopes to “be here for many, many more years”.
And recording the audio version of his memoir, ‘All that Matters: My Toughest Race Yet’, was even more traumatic, he told BBC.
He said: “The last chapter is basically where I’m writing to the kids. You know my message to them. You know, my final message to them.
“[You’re] reading the words out loud, you have to connect emotionally.
“You’ve got to actually read in a way that means something. But the risk is getting too close to it – because you’re suddenly thinking, these are the words that my kids will listen to when I’m gone.
“And that is, without doubt, the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Hoy began chemotherapy in November, wearing an extremely painful cold cap to keep his hair.
The sportsman suffered a violent allergic reaction in gruelling chemo sessions – but only missed five days of training on a bike.
He took to Instagram on Sunday to reassure fans he is still “feeling fit, strong and positive” despite the diagnosis.
Hoy shared a snap of himself in Copenhagen for the World track cycling championships and said it was “great to be out”.
“Some truly incredible performances; world records and a new generation of future stars showing us what they can do,” he wrote.
“You may see in the news this weekend some articles about my health, so I just wanted to reassure you all that I’m feeling fit, strong and positive, and overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to my family and me. Onwards!”
Well-wishes for the BBC pundit have poured in since his health announcement.
Sir Mark Cavendish, who holds the record for most stages won in the Tour de France, hailed Sir Chris as a “hero of a human being”.
Amy Joy Williams, MBE, the British former skeleton racer and Olympic gold medallist, added: “A pure superhuman who everyone loves. x”
And, Paddy McGuinness shared: “Some man”, as Dame Kelly Holmes wrote: “Sending love to you Chris.”
While comedian Jack Whitehall penned: “Sending you all the love mate.”
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
SYMPTOMS of prostate cancer can include:
- needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- needing to rush to the toilet
- difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- straining or taking a long time while peeing
- weak flow
- feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- blood in urine or blood in semen
Source: NHS
Hoy seen on Sunday for first time since revealing terminal cancer diagnosis[/caption]
Hoy in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2010[/caption]
The couple at BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2022[/caption]
Hoy at the Paris Olympics in July this year[/caption]
Hoy with just a few of his Olympic medals in 2008[/caption]
