“Choose life. Choose joy. Choose how you respond… And when you feel overwhelmed, take a moment. Thoughts can be devastating. Stop trying to predict the future, it’ll diminish time. Get back to the here and now and what’s right in front of you.”
These were the powerful words of Lady Sarra Hoy, our incredible speaker at the first-ever evening edition of Women on Top Edinburgh at The Lyceum.
Honestly, you could have heard a pin drop. It was one of those rare events where the room was completely captivated. Thought-provoking? Absolutely. Inspiring? Without a doubt. And most importantly, grounding. Reminding us of the beauty of being present in the moment.
Many of you may know Sarra’s husband, Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy, but far fewer know about the remarkable woman who has been by his side through thick and thin. We were determined to put Sarra in the spotlight, sharing her story of resilience, love and courage.
Sarra is not just an inspiring speaker. She’s a lawyer, founder and director of a neonatal research CIC, an ambassador for the neonatal charity Bliss, a long-time volunteer with the Samaritans, and a busy mum to two wonderful kids, Callum and Chloe. But, in 2023, her world was turned upside down. Just weeks after her husband, Sir Chris Hoy, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Sarra was diagnosed with active and aggressive Multiple Sclerosis. At first, she chose to keep her diagnosis a secret from him.
“I thought, if it’s not terminal, it’s not a priority. Chris is the priority. What can I control? Only this moment, right here, right now.” Sarra shared with raw honesty.
During an emotional conversation with our egg head host Kylie Reid, Sarra opened up about her journey. From a legal career with a curiosity about crime and Death Row to mum strength, supporting Chris through his Olympic triumphs, going from athlete to spectator and now health battle. Their love story? Straight out of a movie… love at first sight in Grand Cru, Edinburgh. "I thought he was the most handsome man I’d ever met," Sarra beamed.
But it was Sarra’s reflections on togetherness that moved us so much. "We’re going to move mountains, and we’re going to do it together. It’s the biggest privilege, becoming a team," she said, reflecting on their journey.
From making superfood curries to juicing everything for an Olympic athlete’s diet, Sarra’s commitment to supporting Chris is unwavering. Together, they’ve tackled the challenges of a long-distance relationship, raised two premature babies, faced his terminal diagnosis, and then Sarra’s own battle with MS. Yet, through it all, Sarra spoke with grace, focusing on just one day at a time, reminding us that no one is promised tomorrow.
The Lyceum was filled with quiet sniffles throughout the evening. Sarra's voice steady, her words powerful. Be present. Choose life. Embrace joy. Create a plan for the here and now. And above all, share your story because it has the power to help others.
The night concluded with an amazing performance from jazz vocalist Apphia Campbell who will be at The Lyceum with Black Is The Color Of My Voice on September 3rd and 4th - don’t miss it! It’s inspired by the life of Nina Simone and features many of her most iconic songs.
A huge thank you to the brilliant team at The Royal Lyceum for providing such an atmospheric venue, to Audience Director Anna Estelle for her stage debut, and of course, our event sponsors FreeAgent.
Our thanks also goes to Mademoiselle Macaron for the moreish treats, Jennifer McLuckie for the beautiful photography, and the team at EH3 Studios for capturing the night. Podcast coming soon!
We are thrilled to be donating £1,000 to Tour De 4 from our ticket sales, thanks to everyone who joined us at Women in Top. It's an incredible cause and cycling initiative, born from Sir Chris Hoy's vision to change perceptions around Stage 4 Cancer.
Our next Women on Top event takes place 21st May at The Caledonian Edinburgh, featuring lifestyle and travel content creator Pippa Perriam. She'll talk about how she built a trusted and engaged community online, as well as the highs and lows of growing a business in a very public way.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Sarra Hoy for reminding us of the power of courage, kindness and connection. We laughed, we cried and we walked away inspired.
Hope to see you at our next egg event. Book tickets here.
