He has faced temperatures of -6C (21F), walked injured through torrential rain and battled on through storms Ciara and Dennis – all in just a pair of skimpy swimming trunks.
On Saturday Michael Cullen, otherwise known as Speedo Mick, will reach the end of a 1,000-mile walk for charity that has been as punctuated with cheers and good wishes as it has bad weather.
As a lifelong Everton fan who walks in club-branded swimming trunks and scarf, the 55-year-old has arguably suffered enough, but he says the gruelling walk has been the greatest challenge of his life.
Along the way he has been treated like a hero, he received a £50,000 cheque on the road near Old Trafford in Manchester, was praised on BBC Breakfast and was treated to a hero’s welcome in his home city, where he will celebrate with a fundraising ball in March.
After his cup of tea, Cullen said: “It brings a little bit of light into people’s lives, doesn’t it? It makes people smile and that makes it all worth it. It’s more than just raising money, it’s spreading a lot of love.”
speedomick (@speedomick) Thanks @steam_1000 for reminding me of this cracking bit of swivelling I did a few days ago. 🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼🌪🌪🌪🥶🥶🥶 The Speedo song 🤪🤪🤪
Who loves ye Babeeeee 💙💙👣👣 Don’t forget to keep sharing and donating only £21k off the target! https://t.co/1thFo7tjYa pic.twitter.com/Wrg0P0RczI
The club he follows has shown him a lot of love in return. When Cullen got a calf injury he was taken to Everton’s training ground, Finch Farm, to meet the players and receive treatment. “His presence on a matchday is really unique in the Premier League and he is as popular with away fans as he is with home supporters,” said the former Everton player Ian Snodin. “Mick epitomises the positive and caring attitude that Evertonians and scousers have.”
So used to them, in fact, that he started visiting Goodison Park to watch Everton dressed only in his trunks and has since been welcomed in stadiums across the country. “The Speedos bring people together and it did that with fans from other clubs as well,” he said. “People respected what I was doing, and instead of being horrible banter it was nice and funny.”
“My message to people is that there is always hope,” he said. “Hope lives in the darkest places, even when you don’t think it is there. All my thinking got me to a dark and lonely place, so my message to anyone else there who is suffering, and a lot of people are, is that there is hope and you can turn your life around. You can get your life back.”