Speedo Mick has completed his final challenge after raising £1,000,000 for charities.
Michael Cullen, from Dovecot, has spent the last seven years trekking across the country wearing only swimming trunks to raise awareness and money for causes close to his heart. The 58-year-old Evertonian reached his target of six figures last week and will now provide grants to grassroots charities that support mental health, disadvantaged young people and the homeless.
His most recent challenge saw him walk a thousand miles from John O'Groat's in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall in four months. Taking to Instagram, he said: "I can't believe the journey is over but I am mighty relieved that it is. I have been running on fumes adrenaline beeps and pasties for 3 weeks .
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"It has been so much more of a challenge than I thought it was going to be but nevertheless I made it across the finish line. A massive thank you to everyone who made the journey to see my silly knickers across the finishing line what a turn out some people had driven hundreds of miles to walk with me but no matter how far you travelled I appreciated you all in the same measure.
"I thought I'd feel a bit sad about it being the end of the journey but I wasn't I was just happy to see my family and happy it was all over. I swear to you I never had another day in me, my emotions and my mental health have been taxed to the max so I'm going to take some time to chill and get my energy levels back to the right level.
"I hope this crazy challenge of mine has been of help to anyone who has been suffering from mental health, addiction or it has simply stirred your soul by inspiring you to climb a mountain or jump in a lake. We are all capable of stepping out of our comfort zones and challenging ourselves in ways we never thought we could.
"Once again I cannot thank you all enough for your kindness generosity and the support and love you have shown me on this difficult challenge, whether you know it or not you have all contributed to helping me complete this challenge and see me across the finish line. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
This challenge will be his "last stomp" as Mick has announced he wishes to pick up new projects, spend more time with loved ones - and get some well-deserved rest. He has twice been nominated for a Pride of Britain Award, first hit the headlines in 2014 by swimming the English Channel in just under 16 hours - despite being a novice swimmer.
While in 2017, he walked 700 miles from Everton’s Goodison Park ground to the French city of Lyon, raising funds for Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. And in 2019 he completed a 1,000-mile walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End and raised half a million pounds, far exceeding his initial target of £100,000.
Last year, he broke a personal record by covering 2,500 across the UK and Ireland over five months, giving £250,000 back to grassroots charities along the way. To find out more about the SpeedoMick Foundation, visit www.thespeedomickfoundation.o
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