Speedo Mick: This season’s true heroic tale
Not all heroes wear capes — but this season it has been discovered that some do wear speedos. That has certainly been the case regarding Everton fan Michael Cullen, aka Speedo Mick. The 50-year-old, who lives in London, has stunned, amused and inspired thousands by attending every Toffee’s match home and away in nothing but his now iconic outfit of a blue swimming cap, goggles and his speedos. However when his beloved side earned themselves a date at Wembley Stadium for an Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United, Mick decided to meet them there from Goodison Park — on foot, walking 200 miles in the process. Through enduring this 10 day challenge Mick has raised an astounding £55 thousand pounds for Woodlands Hospice, a Liverpool based Charitable Trust, exceeding his already outstanding target of £50 thousand pounds by the time he reached the Wembley Arch.
Now he is a social media sensation, amassing more than 13 thousand followers on Twitter, with Jamie Carragher, Neville Southall and Amanda Holden all talking about him. Here is how he completed his walk and what has followed since…
The Tale behind the Trunks…
What prepares someone for a 200 mile walk? A 100 mile walk is a good start, which is what Mick completed in February this year when he walked from Hatton Garden to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium for Everton’s sixth round FA Cup tie. But what came before the walks? What inspired Mick to don his nylon pants at every Premier League stadium? Swimming, funnily enough. In 2014 he swam the English Channel, again for Woodlands Hospice, but found out about a very unusual rule. “There is an age old clause that says you can’t wear shorts, all I could wear was my speedos, goggles and a hat.” It was in that instant, the character of Speedo Mick was born.
“I was so made up with making it across to France that I decided to go and celebrate by going to Everton’s football ground in my speedos to surprise everybody, including my family.”
‘Speedo Mick’ was initially received with good spirited laughter and enjoyment, which soon became donations for his bravery. “I realised then that people were up for a good laugh and I was cooky enough to do it again to raise money most importantly for charity.”
1 pair of speedos, 10 days and 100 donuts: The walk from Goodison to Wembley…
Painful. Fantastic. Spiritual. These were just some of the words Mick expressed to describe a challenge that only a handful would ever attempt to experience. It was physically twice as long and twice as hard as his previous walk, and yet there was something that made it easier for him, propelling him to the national stadium: the support for him. “It was just absolutely phenomenal, right across the country people were pulling up to give me coffee, chocolate and saying well done.
“Some people drove 150 miles just to give me a packet of donuts and take a photograph.”
“I know it wasn’t a walk into the mountains like the monks do but because there was a lot of coming together and positivity it made it a very spiritual, emotional walk.”
The cause: Woodlands Hospice…
Mick and the Hospice first made contact in early 2014, when he offered to raise a generous £2 thousand pounds for them by swimming the Channel, setting up a just giving page in the process. However, after achieving that target Mick persisted on raising more money through his walk to Wembley.
Here is what Katrina Bury, Head of Income Generation at the Hospice, had to say about what his fundraising means to Woodlands.
The money raised will be hugely beneficial for the Hospice that requires £1 million pounds a year in donations to run. “All the money that he has raised will go directly to patient care, to actual care for all of our patients here, you can’t say more than that, it is just amazing for all of our patients here” she added.
After the walk…
It was unlikely that Speedo Mick would travel across the country in his pants unnoticed, but even he cannot believe what has followed since his accomplishment.
“It’s mad you know, on my fridge I have got two drawings off Everton fan’s children who have drawn me in my speedos, goggles and hat like a superhero.”
It has not just been children that have been moved by his act of fearlessness and strength.
“A woman said to me ‘I haven’t been training but I’m doing the 10k run and so is my daughter and my two friends and the reason we’re doing it is because you have inspired us.”
Social media has also seen Mick rise to fame…
Many even want his speedos to be worn by Gary Lineker when he presents Match of the Day next season…
Like all heroes Speedo Mick always wants to improve the lives of others. He has helped those at the Hospice and subsequently seen football fans, who should be rivals, come together to support his fight against cancer and illness. Instead of directing abuse at each other, they have united to applaud him. It is this experience throughout the season that has given Mick one idea that could potentially bring an end to discontent between opposing fans…
