The widow of the twin brother of Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton is stepping forward for our Walk of Hope.
Alex Pendleton – brother to the former track cyclist and Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion – was diagnosed with a brain tumour, later identified as a glioblastoma (GBM), in March 2021.
He had a biopsy, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, before spending 17 months on various chemo drugs. Despite this, Alex developed a second brain tumour. Sadly, his treatment came to an end after a critically low platelet count prevented him, despite a transfusion, from continuing with chemotherapy.
Alex died in a hospice in June 2023, four days after his wife, Sarah’s, 33rd birthday and just seven days before the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary.
Sarah, pictured on her wedding day with Alex and his two sisters, Nicola and Victoria, said: “I’m still in disbelief, and so sad. It’s been a really difficult journey and knowing how common it is and how the treatment for it hasn’t changed in decades makes it all the more awful.”
On Saturday 30th September, Sarah and her younger sister, Gemma Fox, will join hundreds of other supporters at our Walk of Hope around Wardown Park in Luton. She said: “I’m looking forward to the walk and think it’ll be good for me to meet others who have been through, or are going through, what I have.
Sarah added: “It’s only when someone you love is affected by this disease you realise how common it is, which is why I feel it’s so important to support Brain Tumour Research and do what I can to help find a cure.”
To support Sarah’s fundraising, please donate via her JustGiving page.
You can join our Walk of Hope in Luton by registering here or find a Walk of Hope event near you here. If our events aren’t convenient for you, you can still get involved by planning your own Walk of Hope, wherever you are and whenever you can – find out more here.