Chris Hoy quits UK with family over 'worst fear' as he and wife battle incurable diseases

Sir Chris Hoy, a six-time Olympic gold medalist, has revealed the heartbreaking news that his cancer is terminal, and his wife Sarra has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis.

The 48 year old former track cyclist expressed his deepest fear that his children, Callum, 9, and Chloe, 6, might learn about his condition through their peers at school, hearing something like, "I saw your daddy on the news last night and he's going to die."

To avoid this, the family has planned a two-week half-term holiday to get away from the intense situation.

Sir Chris hopes that by the time they return, the furore will have calmed down, but he's also prepared to face the reality, saying, "You know what? It may happen. If it does, we will deal with it."

The couple has been open with their children about Chris' cancer diagnosis, but has not yet shared the news about Sarra's MS. In his new book, All That Matters, Chris writes about Sarra's diagnosis, saying, "Another scan just before confirmed that Sarra had 'very active and aggressive' MS and needed urgent treatment.

"It's the closest I've come to, like, you know, why me? Just, what? What's going on here? It didn't seem real. It was such a huge blow, when you're already reeling. You think nothing could possibly get worse.

"You literally feel like you're at rock bottom, and you find out, oh no, you've got further to fall. It was brutal."

Chris' children Callum and daughter Chloe, were just nine and six when he was initially handed the news about his cancer diagnosis and the champion cyclist says he agonised over how to tell them .

He recalled that Callum first replied "Are you going to die?" to which Chris replied that "no-one lives forever" but he is hoping "to be here for many, many years".

When he began chemotherapy treatment, Chris said Callum asked repeatedly if he was going to lose his hair. So, for the sake of his son - and to try and conceal his illness for as long as possible - Chris endured the agony of a cold cap, which he said "is like your head being in a vice", for six rounds of chemotherapy over 18 weeks.

Despite facing a future filled with fear and uncertainty, the retired athlete is determined to raise awareness and "change the perception of stage 4 cancer". Sir Chris revealed that he has been given a life expectancy of two to four years.

Initially, he visited the doctor for what he believed was a gym injury in his shoulder, only to be diagnosed with prostate cancer which had spread to form tumours in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and ribs.