Positive cancer victim beats the odds — literally

Positive cancer victim beats the odds — literally
Jon Matthews, 58

One Briton was so determined to beat his terminal cancer prognosis, he put money on it – and collected £5000.

Jon Matthews, 58, had the bet of his lifetime – literally – when he asked bookmakers William Hill to take the wager.

After being diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2006 he beat doctors’ predictions he would not live until Christmas.

So he decided to take his situation to the bookies and defied the odds to claim his winnings – 25 months after his diagnosis.

He explained: “I lasted six months more than they said I would, so I thought why not?

“My mind was telling me I got this far, I can get further.”

Doctors told Mr Matthews if he lived until June 1 – he would beat the longest survival time for killer cancer Mesothelioma.

The Bedfordshire punter put down £100 at 50/1 that he would live until June 1.

William Hill’s spokesperson Graham Sharpe said: “We had never been asked to accept a bet of this nature before.

“But as Jon approached us directly and was adamant that it would give him an additional incentive to battle his illness, we decided to offer him the bet he wanted.

“Never, in thirty years in the business, have I been so pleased to pay a winning client £5000.”

Not only did he win, Mr Matthews has already placed a bet he will still be around this time next year.

He plans on giving half to cancer charity Macmillan.

The other half I’m going to spend on myself – booze and fags probably – I don’t have anything to lose!” he said.

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