Victoria Pendleton’s twin brother Alex has died at the age of 42 immediately after battling an ‘aggressive’ mind tumour.
Alex was diagnosed with leukemia as a youngster and just after additional than three many years in remission his most cancers tragically returned.
Spending tribute to her sibling – who aided hone her biking abilities by taking her our racing her as small children – Victoria said that Alex would be ‘painfully missed by many’.
Publishing a image with her twin on Instagram, she penned: ‘Alex Pendleton 24.09.80 – 22.06.23.
‘If you know me then you possible know my twin brother Alex, I just preferred to permit you know that this early morning Alex regrettably passed absent right after an epic struggle towards an aggressive brain tumour.’
Heartbreaking information: Victoria Pendleton has unveiled her twin brother Alex has died just after battling an ‘aggresive’ mind tumour
Tragic news: Paying tribute to her sibling in her heartfelt post, the Olympian explained he would be ‘painfully skipped by many’
She ongoing: ‘He will be painfully missed by lots of. Relaxation in peace my type, brave twinnie, you will endlessly be in our hearts ❤️ #twinner #betterhalfofme #heartbroken #missyou #wewillneverforgetyou.’
Close friends of the bike owner had been speedy to pay out their condolences, with Ben Fogle commenting: ‘I am so so so sorry Vic. Sending you all my adore ❤️’
Adam Thomas shared ‘Thinking of you xxx’ although Dame Kelly Holmes penned: ‘I am so so sorry to read through this Vic. sending significantly enjoy to you and spouse and children Xx’.
Alex was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 4 right after being pricked by a wild rose thorn that caused blood poisoning he then experienced leukaemia.
Victoria recalled the ailment arrived on instantly, revealing she continue to remembers the day he was rushed to medical center and the evenings she would invest praying for him to get better.
In 2019, when Victoria took component in gruelling truth clearly show Celeb SAS: Who Dares Wins, she disclosed she signed up right after currently being influenced by how her brother battled cancer.
She discussed: ‘It was identified speedily and he’s with me today. I know many small children and grownups are not that fortunate. I constantly sense extremely fortunate that I have him.
‘I’m in financial debt to the health professionals and nurses for supplying him the treatment he necessary.’
Bond: Alex was previously diagnosed with leukemia but was explained to have designed a total recovery, with Victoria utilizing his struggle as inspiration on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Memories: Victoria formerly credited her brother as aspect of the reason behind her Olympic success, getting raced against him as a child
Tragic reduction: In 2018 Alex married Sarah Jones and in a touching gesture, the few raised cash for Cancer Study by asking for charitable donations in lieu of marriage ceremony presents
The yr ahead of, Alex married his girlfriend Sarah Jones and in a touching gesture, the few raised cash for Most cancers Analysis by asking for charitable donations in lieu of marriage provides.
A JustGiving website page for the pair browse: ‘In our life we have both witnessed the influences of cancer and have dropped spouse and children associates considerably as well early in their life.
‘We have generally spoken about fundraising for a charity so close to our hearts, but lets be significant, is Sarah ever going to operate a marathon? LOL
‘This is why alternatively of us accepting marriage ceremony presents, we are encouraging you to donate revenue to Cancer Study. Please aid us make a variation to someone’s lifestyle.’
Victoria earlier spoke about her sibling’s skill to stay in the second and his sunny persona.
Talking to The Each day Mail in 2020, Victoria broached the subject matter of her mental health and fitness and despair battles.
She stated: ‘I reside with the understanding depression may well transpire at any time, but I am more prepared to offer with it now
‘I’ve usually had very low spells. A ton of folks in my family members have knowledgeable nervousness and depression.
‘My more mature sister Nicola, my father — both of those of them put up with at instances from extreme stress.’
But she disclosed the identical could not be said for Alex, laughing: ‘No, we are yin and yang. He doesn’t get lifetime much too significantly.’
Victoria has also credited her brother as part of the rationale at the rear of her Olympic success.
She exposed that her mother and father gave Alex more interest in childhood just after his cancer struggle so she turned hellbent on beating her brother at biking, to demonstrate herself.
At the age of 9, the siblings began racing and by the time she was 15, Victoria was applied to biking 50 miles on a Sunday.
Childhood memories: Victoria formerly spoke about her sibling’s skill to live in the instant and his sunny persona (pictured with each other as small children)
Shut: Victoria and her late brother Alex posed jointly for a picture in their younger yrs
Early inspiration: Victoria and Alex can be found sporting cycling equipment
Congratulations: With two Olympic gold medals and a single silver, Victoria is one particular of Good Britain’s most effective woman Olympians
Alex then gave up biking as their more mature sister Nicola had just before, with Victoria quipping that he ‘saw his possibility and took it’ to give up and escape the entire world of competitive activity.
Yet Victoria’s enjoy of using and resolve ongoing and she went on to grow to be an Olympic, Environment, European and Commonwealth champion.
With two Olympic gold medals and one particular silver, Victoria is a person of Terrific Britain’s most profitable female Olympians.
Soon after retiring in 2012 she retrained as a jockey, getting part in the 2016 Foxhunter Chase, at Cheltenham.
