SpeedoMick Completes Epic 2,400 Mile Giving Back Tour

www.thespeedomickfoundation.org

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.

The 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.

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.

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

This was the spark he needed. Mick had found his next purpose to combine giving thanks with help. He set up The SpeedoMick Foundation in 2020 and set about making a difference in the best way he knows how – getting his walking boots on and putting smiles on people’s faces.

Mick said “The Giving Back Tour gave me my purpose back after a really tough year and it’s helped me see light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a privilege for me to meet people who might need a helping hand and to be able to support them means the world to me. In my life, I’ve been in some dark, lonely, hopeless places and for me, one the most rewarding parts of my fundraising has been to help people who are facing what I have faced.”

In the intervening 201 days he has walked 2,492 miles given £200,000 to 86 charities and good causes with more to come. He evokes honesty in everyone he meets and has heard stories of heart break and despair from people who have come out to walk with him. The charities he has helped so far include those helping families experiencing poverty, disadvantaged young people, homeless people, mental health, suicide prevention and addiction and recovery.

As proof of his popularity Mick has done over 75 media interviews and has a combined social media reach of over nearly 40 million with 250,000 loyal followers.

He added: “It’s the best feeling in the world to see people coming out to support me just raising a smile by walking down the road in my undies, then it’s all been worth it. I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a few parts of the walk that weren’t fun.

“I’m a 56-year-old man, so my knees have been cracking and shaking the whole way, as have my hips, my ankles, my back and my neck but that might just be my dancing! People always say that I must get used to the cold when I’m walking in my knickers, but you never get used to it, it rattles your bones every time Morecambe was one of the coldest parts!”

Mick said when he finished: “It means the world to me to get such a brilliant welcome and to see faces that I’ve not seen in years. It’s been emotional man and I can’t believe I’ve done it. I want to thank everyone that came out to see me, cheer me on and the ones that had a little boogie with me. Thank you to everyone that has donated. A special thank you to Karen who has made sure I knew where I was going and had a bed to sleep in every night for the past six and a half months days, thank you to the team and thank you to my family and especially Rachel for supporting me. I love you all.”

Mick has done all of this just wearing just his long suffering Everton speedos, his backpack and walking boots. Some may question is seasonal attire, but no one can question his will, determination, and ability to put smiles on people’s faces.