A DUNTOCHER dad who was once told he had just 12 hours to live has defied the odds by beating the deadly disease which he was told would kill him more than five years ago.

Billy Dempster astounded doctors after beating cancer just months after his wife and two children were told it was “curtains”. But his positive attitude has pulled him through – and now he’s feeling better than ever.

The mechanical engineer was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes.

He said: “I was very, very ill and was in the Beatson Cancer Care Centre (BCC) but I decided I wasn’t going to die and I wasn’t going to leave my family.

“I feel great now – it really was a wake-up call for me. I’ve had a second wind for my job, I love my job. It gives you that appreciation and I’m glad my experience can help others.

“I was back in full-time employment within eight months – and I’m still going with no plans to retire. When you’ve been down a dark hole and you come back up you’ve got to start thinking about what things in life matter so that’s where I’m at now.”

In early 2011, Billy’s wife Mary, 62, and children Scott and Shona – aged 32 and 28 respectively – were led to believe he was on his death bed, a thought which plagued his mind.

Billy said: “You’re sleeping (in hospital) and you hear all the commotion going on. The lights turn on, curtains go round then someone is taken away in a body bag. Everything is cleaned and tidied up and by the next day there’s someone else in their place. I was very aware of what was going on, and all I could think about is ‘am I going to be next?’.” After his miraculous recovery, Billy decided to devote his time to repaying the centre for all they did to save him and he’s done just that.

Each year, the 63-year-old organises a charity walk to help drum up funds for the Gartnavel Hospital based unit.

On top of the thousand he has already raised for the unit, the walk in August last year helped secure a £5,803.41 donation for the charity.

Billy said: “We hoped for better weather this year and we got it, with 51 walkers, all with the yellow Beatson T-shirts on taking part. From the lunch stop, it was seven miles to the finish and the legs were getting tired but with a lot of encouragement all the walkers made it to the finish.” He raised more than £5,000 in 2016 – and around £30,000 to date.

Catriona Hogg, supporter care assistant at Beatson, added: “We are so grateful to Billy for his amazing fundraising efforts.

“Billy has been raising thousands of pounds for the charity since 2011 and has made every effort to organise different activities and events to keep inspiring people to make a donation to the worthwhile cause.

“Without supporters like Billy, the charity would not be able to deliver its unique and much-needed services to cancer patients and their families across the west of Scotland.

“His generosity and that of everyone who has supported his fundraising will have a direct impact on thousands of cancer patients and their families, both now and in the future, through the dedicated work of the charity, and for that we are so thankful.”