FUN-ERAL: Terminally-ill cancer patient throws his own ‘death party’

Ben Turner via SWNS

A terminally-ill cancer patient has celebrated his 'death party' as he has just months to live - and he says that cancer can "kiss my arse."

Russ Pegrum, 48, partied until the early hours with 120 friends and family - including old school pals he hadn't seen in decades.

"It was a great night, I'm so glad we did it," saidRuss, from Waltham Abbey, England.

"I told everyone that they were there because I loved them and they'd given me a memory for the rest of my life."

He was showered with hugs and kisses as the fancy-dressed 'mourners' danced the night away while enjoying beers and pizza.

"I had a lot of drunk people coming up to me to give me a hug and a kiss," Russ said.

"The party was supposed to end at midnight but it went on until 1.30am. I did a lot of sleeping the next day, I was quite tired!"

Russ was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2018 but stopped his chemotherapy in September to make the most of his final days.

Doctors told him he may not reach his next birthday in March, but he decided to make light of his situation by throwing his own wake - or 'death party' - on Saturday.

In an invitation for Russ' 'death party' he wrote that cancer could "kiss his arse."

The invite read:

There once was a man called Russ.

"He didn't like making a fuss.

Cancer would take him.

But never could break him.

Cos cancer could kiss his arse.

Russ' party featured a raffle that helped to raise almost £1,200 ($1,611) for local charities Edie's Kindness Project and Through The Fight Foundation.

The former factory worker relies on a wheelchair to travel long distances but is still managing to tick off his bucket list.

On Thursday, he's doing a 'sky walk' tour of his boyhood football club Tottenham Hotspurs' stadium with his family.

Russ Pegrum partied until the early hours with 120 friends and family. (Michael Bird via SWNS)

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Russ has even planned his own funeral so that "when the time comes everything will be how I'd like it to be".

His cancer went into remission in March but it returned three months later and he restarted chemotherapy.

By September, doctors told him there was nothing more to be done and Russ opted to quit his treatment, which had left him "staring at the walls at home."

Russ said previously: "Since quitting chemo I've learnt to enjoy my life.

"These have been among the happiest months of my life.

"Planning a funeral is a fairly unusual experience but it's given me peace of mind.

"I've picked out the coffin and music, and written my own eulogy. I found it quite enjoyable really."