WHEN Mark Jones was diagnosed with an unexplained brain haemorrhage aged just 22, his family were told to prepare for the worst.

He had woken up feeling unwell but quickly collapsed and was rushed to hospital.

He spent the next 12 weeks battling for his life after being put in an induced coma for a fortnight.

And he witnessed the death of the 16-year-old boy in the bed next to him, who was suffering from the same illness.

But Mark, now 48, said his near death experience changed his life for the better.

The financial advisor, who is from Newton-le-Willows but runs Assured Wealth on Centre Park, said: "I still feel lucky.

"Why did I make it and other boys didn't?

"It definitely changed how I look at life. After I recovered I went back to college. I saw it as a second chance at life."

Mark lost his manual labour job in a warehouse as a result of his illness but instead of feeling disheartened, he trained as a manager and worked as a stockbroker.

Mark, who has a daughter and a stepson, said: "My haemorrhage was awful at the time and terrible for my family.

"But it gave me the opportunity to go back to school. I would probably still be working in a factory if I hadn't had the illness.

"I was unlucky but also lucky."

Ever since he recovered, he has tried to make the most of life by completing bucket list challenges to raise money for charity and invite other people to plan the experiences they have always dreamed of.

Mark recently returned from a cycle ride from London to Paris and has also biked across Cambodia and Vietnam.

And he has also fulfilled his dream to help young people by sharing his financial expertise with schools across the north west, volunteering to speak to classes about money.

Mark teaches around 220 pupils a year and says youngsters often grow up with no guidance about saving, spending and earning cash.

He said: "I love it because it's a completely different environment. Children ask questions that we adults wouldn't ask because it's embarrassing, like what happens to your money when you die? What's a mortgage? Why do people get into debt?

"I only have to get one child to change their thinking about money to know it's been a success."

And he is now planning the next trip to tick off his bucket list, a cycle from Vienna to Salzburg.

He is looking for volunteers to join him on the journey and help raise money for good causes.

Visit the fundraising page at justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/handonheartltd/rideforchange.

To book Mark for a free school workshop visit assuredwep.co.uk/free-money-management-financial-advice.