Speedo Mick Foundation has helped send 60 local children to Colomendy

Speedo Mick’s charity has helped pay for 60 disadvantaged local children to go to Colomendy, giving them the same chance he was given more than 40 years ago.

When he was 12, Speedo Mick was one of only two children in his year at St Margaret Mary’s who couldn’t afford to go on the school holiday to Colomendy.

He’d given up hope of joining his friends when the school stepped in and offered to subsidise his trip.

Mick says it gave him an opportunity he’s never forgotten and now, through the Speedo Mick Foundation, he’s been able to pay back that kindness with a donation to The Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund.

“I was so desperate to go, I remember I kept asking my mum for the deposit, which was £2, and she’d always say, ‘I’m sorry lad, I haven’t got it.’

Speedo Mick's charity has helped send 60 local children to Colomendy — Speedo Mick’s charity has helped send 60 local children to Colomendy

“I was asking for months and in the end I’d given up on it, but then the school called me into the office and I thought I was in trouble again, but they said they were going to subsidise me and the other pupil.

“I asked what that meant and the headteacher said they were going to help pay for the holiday, and give me some spends, I was buzzing.

“I went and I swear every single day there is still etched in my mind, I remember it so vividly. I’ve got so many memories of being there with my mates, we all had grass dens and we ended up building relationships with the teachers because they saw us in a different light.

“When I got back to school it felt different because they’d seen a brighter side of our nature and everyone was just being kind, so it made a massive difference to me.”

Mick says one of the reasons he wanted to support other children to go to Colomendy was the sense of inclusion it gave him.

“That really is important. These are all disadvantaged children in some way; it might be to do with their home life, or financially, or maybe they’ve got a disability.

“The biggest thing for me was the school still sent me along, even though they knew my behaviour wasn’t up to much, I had ADHD so I was all over the place. They still took a chance and gave me those memories. It’s taken a long time for me to be able to get into a place to give that back, but now I’m passing it on.

“Just being included is a massive thing, and it’s imperative that we do that for every child.

“By taking them on these exciting trips you’re taking the kids out of their environment, whatever that may be, and the parents get a respite as well. You’re giving them a different perspective on life, another look at how things should or could be, and they’re seeing bigger horizons and possibilities.

“We donated to The Merseyside Children’s Holiday Fund last year and I’ve asked them to reapply so we can donate again for next year. We’re going to do that for as long as we possibly can, as long as there’s money in the bank.”

Mick says it’s thanks to everyone who supported him on his walks that he’s been able to help hundreds of grassroots charities like the holiday fund.

“I want to say thank you to everyone who donated on my stomps because they’ve all made such a massive difference in people’s lives.

“There were two children who couldn’t go to Colomendy all those years ago and now there are 60 who can go. I love that.”