A cancer patient with just months to live is planning his own Grim Reaper-themed "death party" this weekend and says he's the "happiest I've ever been".
Russ Pegrum, 48, will have beer and pizza at his unusual "wake" this Saturday, with family and old school friends due to dress up in Grim Reaper costumes.
The former factory worker, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2018, quit chemotherapy in September to make the most of his final days.
Doctors say he has just months to live, and Mr Pegrum, from Waltham Abbey, Herts, who has a 9cm tumour, doesn't know if he'll reach his next birthday in March.
However, he says he's "the happiest I've been" after organising his own wake and picking out a coffin for his funeral.
He added: "I've called it my death party. It sounds a bit morbid but it's making light of it and having a bit of fun.
"I'm wearing a shirt with skulls on it. One friend has bought a Grim Reaper costume.
"I've got people coming from school days and people I haven't seen for 30 odd years."
Mr Pegrum's 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 he opted to quit his treatment, which had left him "staring at the walls at home".
He lost 27kg during his chemo and now needs a wheelchair to travel long distances.
Mr Pegrum, who lives with mum Brenda and dad Laurence, said: "I decided to stop the chemo and within a month I felt 100 times better.
"Since quitting chemo I've learned 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 piece of mind. I've picked out the coffin and music, and written my own eulogy. I found it quite enjoyable really.
"When the time comes everything will be how I'd like it to be."
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