SpeedoMick Completes Epic 2,400 Mile Giving Back Tour www.thespeedomickfoundation.org Not being someone to take the easy route, he diverted to Lands End to relive the scene of his previous charity adventure adding over 400 miles to his route. From there he began the long walk to his home of Liverpool where he was greeted by thousands of well-wishers and supporters who have followed his journey and have helped raise over £150,000. This was not your typical charity walk, this was a SpeedoMick charity walk. The aim was not only to raise money and awareness but also to give grants to small charities along the route and to thank those communities for the support they had given him. No other charity fund raiser has ever given back in this way, and this is what helps make SpeedoMick so special. The idea for the tour came about after his last 1,100 mile walk ended and the global pandemic struck which took SpeedoMick (full name Michael Cullen) from the high with thousands of supporters at Lands End, to a deep and dark low.
SpeedoMick has cemented his place in the nation’s hearts after completing a superhuman six and a half month charity walk through five capital cities and giving £200,000 to small charities along the way. 198
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he Giving Back Tour started in the sunshine on the Isle of Lewis on the 31st of May and ended in Liverpool on the 17th of December amongst the Christmas markets. He has traversed Scotland before crossing the Irish Sea. He then circumnavigated the isle of Ireland before a short cruise back across to North Wales to venture south before finally entering England.
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
He said: “The last year has been very tough for me, I’ve struggled with depression and at times it felt like it was never going to end. I’d just finished my last walk when the country was plunged into lockdown, and it took away my sense of purpose. I’m someone who always needs to be doing something and raising money for charity has been such a big part of my life, but that stopped pretty much overnight with lockdown.” The community hero, from Dovecot, Liverpool, was inspired to take up fundraising after his own battles with alcohol and drug dependency, isolation and homelessness. During Mick’s darker times last year, he became aware of the struggle facing small charities who were being left behind amongst the turmoil of lockdown and financial uncertainty. www.lancmag.com
