Victoria Pendleton, 43, broke down in tears as she shared her touching tattoo tribute to her late twin brother on Friday.
The Olympian took part in the Don’t Look Down Stand Up To Cancer Special and appeared on the live telethon on Friday.
Standing alongside the other show’s contestants, the group spoke about the challenges they needed to accomplish alongside show host Paddy McGuinness.
Victoria donned a black dress with a low square neckline, which beautifully showed off her tribute tattoo for her brother.
The tattoo is placed in the centre of Victoria’s chest, so it’s always near her heart, and shows a delicate drawing of an anatomical heart with Alex’s name written across on a banner.
Moving: Victoria Pendleton, 43, broke down in tears as she shared her touching tattoo tribute to her late twin brother on Friday
Grief: The Olympian took part in the Don’t Look Down Stand Up To Cancer Special and appeared on the live telethon on Friday
Co-host for the evening, Davina McCall, 56, comforted Victoria with a huge hug.
When discussing taking part in Don’t Look Down, she told The Mirror: ‘I needed to do something, get back into the swing of things and it was the perfect opportunity coming around at the perfect time.
‘I feel very fortunate. It came to me pretty late – I think they were thinking I wouldn’t necessarily be interested in doing something so soon, and I was like, actually, no, I think it sounds really interesting’
In June, Victoria’s twin brother Alex passed away 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 on Thursday, 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.’
Comfort: Co-host for the evening, Davina McCall, 56, comforted Victoria with a huge hug
Loving: Victoria donned a black dress with a low square neckline, which beautifully showed off her tribute tattoo for her brother
Ink: The tattoo is placed in the centre of Victoria’s chest, so it’s always near her heart, and shows a delicate drawing of an anatomical heart with Alex’s name written across on a banner
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.’
Friends of the cyclist were quick to pay their condolences, with Ben Fogle commenting: ‘I am so so so sorry Vic. Sending you all my love ❤️’
Adam Thomas shared ‘Thinking of you xxx’ while Dame Kelly Holmes penned: ‘I am so so sorry to read this Vic. sending much love to you and family Xx’.
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.
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.’
Heartfelt: 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’
Heartbreaking news: Victoria Pendleton revealed her twin brother Alex died back in June, after battling an ‘aggresive’ brain tumour
Tragic news: Paying tribute to her sibling in her heartfelt post, the Olympian said he would be ‘painfully missed by many’
