A terminal cancer patient is busy planning his own WAKE – where he will be the star guest.
Rock and roll dancer Peter Anderson, 74, has spinal cancer and was told by doctors he has just months to live after it spread to his lungs and liver.
But he is determined to remain positive and is organising his own farewell do before he dies.
Peter said: “My daughter is doing most of the organising and most of my friends think it’s a good idea.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing friends old and new, and having a drink and meeting their wives and partners for a really good day.”
“My dancing partner thinks it’s a bit strange but this is what I want.”
Peter, a former bus driver, was diagnosed with secondary spinal cancer earlier this month.
The dad-of-two had chemotherapy and is on strong pain relief tablets, and says he feels back to his “old self” again.
He said: “At the moment I’m feeling fine, but I don’t know how long that will last.
“For three months I tried getting into hospital but they wouldn’t take me, and a day after I went in they knew I had cancer.
“I was in terrible pain and doctors said I had two or three months to live, but you never know, it might go on for nine months.
“I wasn’t drinking or eating and I lost two stone in just over two months. Now I’m having three meals a day and I’m really enjoying it.
“I didn’t sleep for months, but now I’m in no pain at all.”
Peter, from Plymouth, Devon will hold his wake on Sunday, September 11 at the Pennycross Sports and Social Club.
He will be spraying his hair pink, and has told everyone they have to wear something pink – the colour associated with cancer.
On the day there will be a collection for Marie Curie cancer care and live rock ‘n’ roll music.
Peter added: “The only time you see all your old friends is at funerals, so it’s going to be really nice.
“I’m sure my daughter will have another get together after I die, but this is what I want.
“My daughter said: ‘You go on dad, if you fancy it, you do it.”
Twice-wed Peter was divorced from his first wife after 29 years and his second wife died after a brain haemorrhage.
He said: “It has given me a different perspective on everything.
“I can’t do anything to stop this or prevent the cancer, so I might as well hold an event like this.”
