'No one can accuse me of wanting to give up on life'

A MUSIC teacher who has been given less than a year to live hopes to cross the finish line at the London Marathon one last time next Sunday.

- Hanna Geissler

Nathaniel Dye, 38, has stage four bowel cancer which has spread to his brain, lungs and liver.

The assisted dying campaigner said his latest challenge is yet more evidence that terminally ill people like him are "anything but suicidal" and simply want control over their deaths when they reach a point of no return.

He added: "No one can accuse me of wanting to give up on life."

Nathaniel was offered a place in this year's race after being honoured with a Spirit of the London Marathon Award for his efforts last year.

He completed the 26.2-mile course in five hours and 49 minutes while playing the trombone.

Nathaniel said: "I genuinely don't know what's going to happen on race day. I've lost a lot of fitness, gained a lot of weight and I've got at least 50 tumours in me somewhere.

"So I'm leaving the trombone at home. I've got nothing to prove but it's more likely than not that I won't be breathing, let alone running, next year, so I may as well go for it."