Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy has marked his 50th birthday, two-and-a-half years after being diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. The Team GB icon, who was told in September 2023 that his cancer had spread to his bones, has been given between two and four years to live.
Hoy described the diagnosis as an 'absolute horror and shock', leaving him 'completely numb'. Around the same time, his wife Sarra was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS), having undergone a scan just a week after her husband's cancer news.
Despite the devastating double blow, the couple have turned their ordeal into a force for good. By going public, Hoy has been credited with encouraging tens of thousands of men to get checked for prostate cancer. NHS website traffic to the prostate cancer page rose by 47% in the six months after his announcement, and more men were diagnosed at an earlier stage than ever before.
Together with Sarra, Hoy launched the Tour de 4 charity cycling event in Glasgow last September, aiming to raise £1 million for cancer charities. The event, which saw 5,000 participants including Sir Mark Cavendish and Dan Walker, raised over £3 million.
Hoy has spoken about finding positivity in his situation, telling BBC Radio Scotland that being told he had years to live 'brought everything into focus'. He now appreciates small moments, such as time with his children or watching the sunrise, and advises against worrying about the future: 'If you worry about something you suffer twice.'
