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Terminally Ill Man Picks a Winner: Himself

At 50-1 odds, British cancer patient has won $16K betting he'll live

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 1, 2009 3:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – A terminally ill British man collected about $8,200 today after betting he’d stay alive, the BBC reports. After being diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer in 2006 and told he had just months left, 59-year-old Jon Matthews made £100 bets he’d stick around until June 1, 2008, and June 1, 2009—at 50-1 odds. He’ll double his money if he lives until this date next year.

“I think I’m the first person in the world to bet on my own life,” Matthews says. Adds a spokesman for the bookmaker, “Never in 30 years in the business have I been so pleased to pay a winning client £10,000, with, I trust, a further £10,000 to come next year,” Matthews says he plans on donating most of the money to cancer charities.

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A cancer-stricken man collected £5,000 today after living another year. (AP Photo)

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Jon Matthews placed a bet on his own life. (AssociatedPress)

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Never in 30 years in the business have I been so pleased to pay a winning client £10,000, with, I trust, a further £10,000 to come next year.
- William Hill spokesman

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Terminally Ill Man Picks a Winner: Himself