Tony Collier was told he would be dead by now. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer and told he had just two years to live.
But, more than five years later, the super-fit runner is still with us. And he's determined to make the most of every day.
Tony, 65, of Altrincham, found out he had cancer after struggling with what he thought was a groin strain. At the time, he had just completed two back-to-back marathons - a week apart in Paris and Manchester - as part of his training for the gruelling Comrades ultra-marathon in South Africa.
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He went to a specialist but says he could 'tell by his face straight away that something was seriously wrong'. Two weeks later, Tony received the news everyone dreads – he had prostate cancer, it had spread to his bones and it was terminal.
The pain he'd been experiencing was caused by stress fractures in bones that had been weakened by the disease. Doctors believed the cancer could have been lying hidden for ten years without any symptoms.
Tragically, a simple test for prostate cancer is available for men over 50. Tony believes if he had known about it at the time it could have saved his life.
But, thankfully he's been able to access a new treatment, paid for by his private medical insurance, to which he's responded 'remarkably well'. It's keeping the cancer under control and has so far given him three precious extra years.
"If I had had that test it would have saved my life, or at least prolonged it," he said. "But I've been very fortunate.
"I've responded remarkably to the treatment and I'm fortunate that my insurance has paid for it. The drugs are controlling the cancer at the minute, but they won't control it forever.
"I'm using the time to make the most of every single day, to make a difference to people lives, and hopefully save a few too."
Tony took up running aged 45, after being told by his doctor he was 'borderline clinically obese'. Since then he's run 20 marathons in his 50s and several ultra-marathons.
And he's still running now. In 2020 he ran a 100km ultra-marathon over two days and this year he's taken on a challenge to run at least 5km every day, in aid of the youth cancer charity Move.
When we speak on Thursday morning he's not long back from his daily run - his 314th of the year so far. He's raised more than £10,000 and counting.
The running keeps him fit, which is a massive help with his treatment. But also, just as importantly, it's a huge boost to his mental health, helping him maintain his remarkably positive mindset. However this wasn't always the case.
Tony, a father-of-two, says he spent the first 18 months after his diagnosis 'thinking about dying' before suffering a breakdown. But he credits a quote from Maggie Jencks, founder of the Maggies cancer centres, with changing his outlook.
"She said ' no-one should lose the joy of living through the fear of dying'," said Tony. "That's what had happened to me.
"It really struck a chord. I realised I'd been doing it wrong, so I changed my whole mindset."
Now he's determined to use the extra time he's been granted to save the lives of other men at risk of prostate cancer. Tony, a semi-retired accountant, is now an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK - and jokes that he will 'speak to anybody' to raise awareness of the need for men over 50 to get tested.
This week he's organised Paint Altrincham Blue. Thought to be the only event of its kind in the country, it's seen much of Altrincham town centre turn blue to raise awareness of prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health - three of the biggest killers of men in the UK.
Events have included an art trail, with pieces created by local school children, and a men's health awareness evening, at which Tony spoke alongside Paralympian Neil Fachie and Dan Rowe from suicide prevention charity Andy's Man Club.
On Saturday Altrincham FC players will warm up in Prostate Cancer UK t-shirts ahead of their match with York City at the J Davidson Stadium, while the town hall has also been lit up blue. Tony hopes his efforts will help other men live to see some of the milestones he's been lucky enough to experience over the last five years.
"I've been really blessed," he said. "When I was diagnosed my grandson Ethan was three.
"He was the apple of my eye, but I thought I wouldn't get to see him grow up to be teenager. Now I think I will and I've also been lucky enough to have three more grandchildren and I walk my daughter down the aisle.
"I've been very lucky, but I know I must do everything I can with that luck."
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