A TERMINAL cancer sufferer stands to cash in and collect another 5,000 in winnings on Monday, after betting he would stay alive. Jon Matthews, 59, refused to accept his doctors prognosis that he would be dead within months and decided to bet against it. Matthews, from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, was diagnosed with mesothelioma - a cancer linked to asbestos - in April 2006. Keen to defy doctors predictions that he would not see in 2007, he placed a 100 stake with odds of 50/1 with bookmakers William Hill that he would remain alive until June 1, 2008. This won him 5,000. He also made a further bet of the same amount and odds that he would survive until June 1 this year, which is set to net him another 5,000. And he has a third and final wager of 100 at 100/1 that he will survive until June 1, 2010, which would see him gain 10,000. Matthews, a widower, said: I think Im the first person in the world to bet on my own life. Telegraph He added that the longest doctors at Harefield Hospital in Middlesex had heard of anyone surviving mesothelioma after diagnosis was 25 months. I reached 26 months a year ago and on June 1 this year I will have reached 38 months, he said. When I was diagnosed I was told mesothelioma was a death sentence. I wasnt that fussed because everyone has to die some time. But the interesting thing for me was how long it would take, would it take weeks or years. Mr Matthews said he plans to give most of his winnings away to charities, including the cancer charity Macmillan. I know Im going to die eventually and I have no real need for money, so it will mostly go to worthy causes, he said. William Hill spokesman 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 offered him the bets he wanted. 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. Telegraph