Jon Matthews Bets On His Life (Literally)

Huge thanks to Adam K. for sending along a link to this video:



Further research shows that he made the bet with William Hill, one of the largest bookmakers in the UK. Seems like all the parties involved have a good attitude about this-- Matthews says he's going to give half the money to cancer charity Macmillan. As for the rest, he says he's "going to spend [it] on myself - booze and fags probably - I don’t have anything to lose."

A spokesman for William Hill says this is a first:

"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 bet he wanted.

"Never, in thirty years in the business, have I been so pleased to pay a winning client £5,000."

What an awesome story.

Sick man wins bet to stay alive [The Sun]