Lady Sarra Hoy, the wife of Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, has revealed she has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The ambassador for neonatal charity Bliss broke the news as her husband said he has just two to four years left to live after being diagnosed with cancer.
Sarra Hoy, born Sarra Kempo and also known as Lady Sarra Hoy, has gained attention for her advocacy work surrounding neonatal care, particularly after the premature birth of their son, Callum, who was born at just 29 weeks.
Sarra has been open about the emotional challenges she faced during this time, highlighting the isolation and trauma that many parents experience when their newborns require intensive care. As an ambassador for Bliss, a UK charity dedicated to supporting families with premature or sick babies, Sarra has worked to raise awareness about neonatal care and mental health for parents in similar situations
She has also launched fundraising initiatives to support children with eye cancers and has been involved in campaigns to improve outcomes for babies in neonatal units. Through her advocacy, Sarra aims to normalize discussions around the challenges of neonatal care and emphasize the importance of support for affected families.
Some weeks before her husband’s cancer diagnosis, Sarra had tests on a tingling sensation in her face and tongue. Then just before Christmas it was confirmed she had multiple sclerosis (MS) that was “very active and aggressive” and needed urgent treatment.
The couple have not told their children about Sarra’s MS diagnosis.
According to the NHS, some common signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) include:
- Fatigue : An overwhelming sense of tiredness that’s not caused by an obvious reason
- Numbness and tingling : An unusual sensation in the skin that’s caused by nerve damage
- Balance and coordination problems : Difficulty walking and moving around, which can be caused by muscle weakness and spasticity
- Muscle spasms and stiffness : Muscles may contract tightly and painfully (spasm) or become stiff and resistant to movement (spasticity)
- Vision problems : Blurred vision or eye pain
Other symptoms of MS include:
- Pain
- Tremor
- Bladder problems
- Bowel problems
- Speech and swallowing difficulties
- Problems with thinking, learning, and planning
- Depression and anxiety