Lady Sarra Hoy, wife of Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, has a “very active and aggressive” form of multiple sclerosis (MS), a diagnosis that came shortly after her husband was told he had terminal cancer. MS affects the brain and spinal cord, and while it cannot be cured, treatment can help manage the condition.
Sarra's initial symptom
Sharing her experience on ITV's This Morning in November 2024, Sarra explained that her first symptom was a tingling sensation on her face, which she initially thought was a dental issue. She recalled: "I had some tingling on my face, just a change in sensation. I thought it was a root canal, and I was sending you [Chris] messages, panicking about some sort of dental treatment."
She added: "Never in a million years, I mean, I've been so healthy - we both have all of our lives - it's not like it suddenly answered questions of things that have been going on for years. Not at all." After an MRI, the diagnosis was confirmed, leaving her shocked: "I never in a million years thought that they would be saying those words."
Keeping the diagnosis secret
Sarra kept her MS diagnosis hidden from Chris, as they were both adjusting to his cancer news. She said: "It came completely out of the blue. I just knew it wasn't the right time. I would always tell Chris everything, and we're each other's crutch in everything in life, so it was very against the grain not to share it with him. But I just knew it wasn't the right time."
She explained that she drew on "mum strength" to cope: "We were trying to find stable ground, having just been given this [cancer] diagnosis from him. I think you get a bit of mum strength. In amongst the fear, I just felt this incredible sense of courage come over me."
MS symptoms according to the NHS
The NHS lists common MS symptoms, which include extreme fatigue, vision problems, numbness or tingling, dizziness, muscle cramps, bladder issues, memory problems, and sexual difficulties. Symptoms may come and go, with flare-ups and remissions, and the condition can worsen over time.
In their first joint interview, Chris and Sarra spoke about their challenging year. Chris, one of Britain's most successful Olympians, has stage 4 terminal cancer and has been told he may have two to four years to live. Despite this, they remain positive, taking each day as it comes. For support, the MS Society offers help and funds research into the condition.
