💔SO SAD: Mark Beretta breaks down as he shares a heɑrtbreɑking update on his mother’s cɑ:ncer bɑttle — while also opening up about life after leaving Sunrise amid sweeping job cuts at Seven, revealing the emotional reason behind his difficult decision…

Sports presenter Mark Beretta says he is thriving after quitting breakfast television – with his love life one of the biggest beneficiaries of his exit.

Beretta, 59, resigned from his role on Channel Seven‘s breakfast show Sunrise late last year, with his final appearance airing on December 12.

The popular host’s exit came as a surprise after 22 years on the show.

December was a busy month for Beretta, as he went public with his relationship with former military leader Renata Hickson for the first time.

The TV veteran has now opened up exclusively to the Daily Mail about his love life, his mother’s cancer battle and the former Sunrise colleague he remains closest to.

‘I am still dating the very distinguished and decorated soldier Renata Hickson, who is an amazing person,’ Beretta said.

‘I’m in awe of her all the time. She has a law degree and has served overseas in the Middle East on numerous deployments,’ Beretta added.

‘I think she’s an amazing Australian and I just love our time together.’

The Aussie household name has also provided an update on the health of his mother, Joan, who has been battling stage four ovarian cancer for six years.

‘Her oncologist calls her “the miracle”,’ Beretta said.

‘She’s going OK. Her cancer is not good – but she’s as tough as they come, and she keeps fighting.

‘We treasure every day with her now and just don’t look too far ahead.’

Beretta’s exit from the Sunrise sports presenter role stunned the media landscape, as he had become synonymous with the program.

Despite no longer working with his long-time team, he still keeps in contact with his old colleagues – particularly former host David Koch.

‘Kochie is probably the person I’m closest to because we see each other a lot through sport,’ Beretta said.

‘He’s got his Port Adelaide connection, and we sledge each other during footy matches on Fridays.

‘I also keep in contact with Nat [Barr], see a lot of Eddie [Edwina Bartholomew], and I’m really close with Sam Mac because I find him hilarious.’

Beretta’s decision to exit the show was linked by some insiders to rumours that Seven planned to cut hundreds of jobs.

The rumours have since been substantiated, with up to 200 staff members across the broadcaster’s newsrooms and operations recently let go.

Despite this, Beretta said his decision ultimately came down to wanting to spend more time with his family, with his father’s death last September deeply impacting him.

‘I just felt, with Dad passing away in September, it changes your view on life,’ he added.

‘There is a finish line to all this – we’ve all got one – and you just want to get out and do all you can while you can.’

Beretta’s father David passed away from lymphoma last September.

He has been involved with Tour de Cure, a charity initiative aimed at raising funds for cancer research, for almost two decades.

As a result of both his parents’ battles, the cause has become closer to his heart and taken on a deeper meaning.

‘It has. It’s been really personal, and for that reason I can’t stop, so I’ll keep going until they can’t lift me on the bike anymore,’ Beretta said.

‘It just makes sense, and now I ride as a tribute to Dad, and to help raise funds so other people don’t go through what he did.

‘[I also ride] to help raise funds to keep the research going to help Mum, so it’s pretty motivational.’

Beretta is also enjoying his time in the Australian Army Reserve as a major.

He had always had an interest in defence as a youngster, but never found the right time to join the reserves until he was nearly 50.

Beretta has said serving in the Defence Force has given him a better appreciation of what it means to dedicate your life to Australia.

‘I’ve done a basic training course, then went on to complete my captain’s course before finishing my major’s course,’ he said.

‘I’ve got a few more courses to do, and it’s just a great environment.

‘I didn’t really appreciate when I joined what service to the nation meant, but now I understand it and I think it’s magnificent.’

Despite walking away from his role at Sunrise, Beretta hopes to remain involved in sports broadcasting in the near future.

He has been part of broadcast teams for V8 Supercars championships, AFL matches, Australian Open tournaments and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

However, his experiences at multiple Olympic Games are the memories that stand out most and make him want to continue working in sport.

‘I’ve got many pots on the stove. But most importantly, the Olympic Games are the pinnacle,’ he said.

‘I would love to be involved in Olympic broadcasting again, so that’s probably where I’ll put my focus,’ Beretta added.

The Geelong-born, now Sydney-based broadcaster speaks proudly of his memories of Australians at the Olympic Games over the past three decades.

He’s also urging track fans to give sprinting sensation Gout Gout time to find his feet, rather than placing immense pressure on him to succeed early.

‘I hate to put pressure on him [Gout] because it feels like the world… is putting pressure on him at the moment,’ Beretta said.

‘I think we’ve just got to let Gout go about his thing, take the pressure down a little and celebrate when he achieves greatness.’

Beretta has enjoyed numerous memorable moments in his sports broadcasting career, but one interaction with golf legend Jack Nicklaus stands out.

‘Channel Seven sent me to interview the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, after Australia lost the Presidents Cup in Melbourne,’ he said.

‘The Americans, who had never lost a Presidents Cup, were sort of limping their way back to the bus, and I had to get a grab with Jack Nicklaus.

‘He was one of the biggest names in world sport, and he just didn’t want to talk to me – he made that very clear, put it that way,’ Beretta continued.

‘If you’ve ever had the death stare from the Golden Bear, it’s one to behold – you don’t go back.’