Victoria Pendleton choked back tears as she spoke about her inspiration for taking part in Channel 4’s Don’t Look Down.
The hair-raising reality series sees a host of celebrities train to walk on a tightrope with the aims of raising funds for Stand Up To Cancer.
The Olympian, 43, spoke about her experience during Monday’s BBC Breakfast as she revealed that losing her twin brother Alex to cancer gave her the motivation to take part.
She explained: ‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to raise funds for research to help people and other sufferers not end up in such a sad situation.’
Coming close to tears she continued: ‘I lost my twin brother and yeah… it’s close to my heart right now.’
Heartbreaking: Victoria Pendleton choked back tears during Monday’s BBC Breakfast as she spoke about her inspiration for taking part in Channel 4 ’s Don’t Look Down
Heartbreaking: Victoria’s twin Alex died in June at the age of 42 after battling an ‘aggressive’ brain tumour and two months later she signed up to raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer
Victoria added: ‘For me, there’s fear involved and it’s scary but that’s nothing like suffering or family suffering with somebody who has terminal cancer.
‘Treatment is suffering. Learning to walk on a wire, it’s difficult, it’s challenging but definitely worth it.’
Victoria’s twin Alex died in June at the age of 42 after battling an ‘aggressive’ brain tumour.
Graphic designer Alex was diagnosed with leukemia as a child and after more than three decades in remission his cancer tragically returned.
Paying tribute to her sibling in an Instagram post, Victoria said that Alex would be ‘painfully missed by many’.
Posting a picture with her twin, she penned: ‘Alex Pendleton 24.09.80 – 22.06.23.
‘If you know me then you likely know my twin brother Alex, I just wanted to let you know that this morning Alex sadly passed away after an epic battle against an aggressive brain tumour.’
She continued: ‘He will be painfully missed by many. Rest in peace my kind, brave twinnie, you will forever be in our hearts ❤️ #twinner #betterhalfofme #heartbroken #missyou #wewillneverforgetyou.’
Candid: Also appearing on the show is footballer Anton Ferdinand, who discussed his motivation for taking part on the breakfast news show
Tragic loss: Anton lost his motherJanice St Fort to cancer aged 58 in June 2017/
Alex was diagnosed with cancer at the age of four after being pricked by a wild rose thorn that caused blood poisoning; he then had leukaemia.
Victoria recalled the illness came on suddenly, revealing she still remembers the day he was rushed to hospital and the nights she would spend praying for him to recover.
In 2019, when Victoria took part in gruelling reality show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, she revealed she signed up after being inspired by how her brother battled the disease.
READ MORE: As Victoria Pendleton takes on the tightrope she reveals why it’s what her late brother would have wanted
She explained: ‘It was diagnosed quickly and he’s with me today. I know many children and adults are not that lucky. I always feel very fortunate that I have him.
‘I’m in debt to the doctors and nurses for giving him the treatment he needed.’
Two months after Alex’s death she signed up for Don’t Look Down.
Also appearing on the show is footballer Anton Ferdinand, who discussed his motivation for taking part on BBC Breakfast.
He explained: ‘[Older brother] Rio’s first wife sadly passed away from cancer and then a few years after, our mum.
‘She was the driving force of our family, she kept us together so losing someone so big and watching it happen was the hardest part.
‘I’d seen it happen with my granddad but then watching my mum go through it was something I really really struggled with.
‘We’re doing this for something that’s so much bigger than all of us and it’s tearing the world apart this disease… if we can get to a place where there’s at least prevention that would be fantastic/
‘If we can play a small part in getting us close to that then as far as I’m concerned we’ve done our bit.’
Paying tribute to his mother Janice St Fort on the day of her death, Anton shared on Instagram: ‘I lost my loving caring and forever selfless mum. Mum for 32 years of my life uve done nothing but put me first!
‘always cared and worried about others before yourself an inspiration to me my brothers sister and husband Peter and anyone she had in her life. Mum we will still be having our talks in the morning when im on the way to work.
‘Thank you to all the staff at Guys cancer care for keeping my mum comfortable and pain free on her way to heaven to be with her father. RIP Mum Love and miss you always mum your son. [sic]’
Don’t Look Down lineup: Chris Hughes, Beverley Callard, David Ginola, GK Barry, Anton, Victoria, Charley Boorman, Kimberley Wyatt, Paddy McGuinness and Fats Timbo
In the challenging series, Paddy McGuinness hosts and leads a team of celebrities as they attempt to work together to tackle an incredible high wire walk.
Set in a summer training camp in the Austrian Alps, over six weeks the famous faces will be coached to conquer their fears as they face a series of physically and mentally demanding training exercises.
Tutored by the world’s foremost experts in high wire walking, at the end of training, the group face the challenge of a lifetime, the most nerve-wracking and vertigo-inducing high wire walk imaginable.
While Paddy will lead the host of celebrities, he will be joined by celebrities including actor Beverley Callard, footballer David Ginola and Love Island star Chris Hughes as they raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer.
