Lady Sarra Hoy has given her first solo television interview, opening up about coping with multiple sclerosis whilst supporting her husband Sir Chris Hoy through his terminal cancer battle.
The wife of the six-time Olympic gold medallist spoke candidly to ITV's Lorraine about their determination to remain positive despite their health struggles.
Sir Chris, 48, revealed his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis last year, with Lady Sarra's MS diagnosis following shortly after.
The couple are parents to Chloe, seven, and Callum, ten.
Lady Sarra Hoy has given her first solo television interview, opening up about coping with multiple sclerosis whilst supporting her husband Sir Chris Hoy through his terminal cancer battle
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In her emotional interview, Lady Sarra described the dark period following their diagnoses.
"You just don't sleep, everything is awful," she told Lorraine.
She explained her approach to coping: "It was about trying to control what I could, and I just thought, I can't do anything about cancer, I can't do anything about MS, I can't control any of that. What can I do? What can I help? What can I change?"
The couple refused to be overwhelmed by their health challenges.
Lady Sarra added: "When everything is spiralling just to stop and say, 'right now, we're safe, the children are safe, this can't define us. We will not become the victims of this.'
Sir Chris Hoy and Lady Sarra Hoy are 'refusing to be victims' as they battle cancer and MS respectively
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"With kids you don't get a chance, there's no time to stop and have a day in bed, you just don't get that opportunity. So yes, the children are everything for us and our family that surrounds us are everything."
She revealed: "It's been okay and I think people are really surprised to know that you can sort of be okay."
Lady Sarra appeared on Lorraine as part of the show's March4March campaign.
The initiative aims to support the one in four Britons suffering with low mood.
Research has shown that exercise and movement can benefit mental health.
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Lorraine is asking viewers and celebrity supporters to pledge steps throughout March.
The campaign hopes to reach a collective 3 million steps, equivalent to the entire length of the UK.
The interview with Lady Sarra is set to air on Monday morning on the daytime programme.
Sir Chris shocked the sporting world when he revealed his cancer diagnosis in September 2023.
He described it as "completely out the blue" with "no symptoms, no warnings, nothing."
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A scan revealed a tumour in his prostate which had metastasised to multiple areas.
He was given two to four years to live.
"It was the biggest shock of my life. I remember the feeling of just absolute horror and shock," Sir Chris revealed.
Three months after his diagnosis, Lady Sarra learned she had multiple sclerosis.
She initially only shared the news with her sister.
Sir Chris spoke movingly about his wife's strength during their ordeal.
Sir Chris Hoy and Lady Sarra Hoy have been married since 2010
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"The strength of Sarra is unbelievable, she kept it to herself," he explained.
"Throughout all of that she was there for me but didn't at any point crack."
He described learning of her diagnosis as their lowest point.
"That was the point where I suddenly thought 'what is going on?' I almost felt like saying OK stop, this is a dream, wake me up, this isn't real, this is a nightmare," he continued.
"You were already on the canvas and I just felt this, another punch when you're already down."
