The inspirational Speedo Mick wins City Region Superhero award at The Guide Liverpool Heroes 2025

In a city full of people doing extraordinary things, one man raised the bar to another level.

That’s why Speedo Mick has been named City Region Superhero in our first ever The Guide Liverpool Heroes 2025 awards.

He was revealed as the winner of one of our special awards at an emotional ceremony at Titanic Hotel on Friday night.

Mick had no idea he was going to receive an accolade, but the super-fundraiser was typically humble and hilarious as he was presented with it by The Guide founder and awards host Jay Hynd.

Mick Cullen (Speedo Mick) said:

“It’s amazing to be here and that the best felling is the world is giving back, there’s no feeling like it. This room is full of people who give back, so its an honour to be here”

Speedo, aka Mick Cullen, has dedicated the past decade to fundraising for charities and organisations supporting mental health, disadvantaged young people and people who are homeless – all things he’s experienced in his own life.

A massive Everton fan, his first major challenge was a cross-Channel swim back in 2014, followed by fundraising in his trademark blue Speedos on the Goodison Park terraces.  

The generous response from fellow supporters inspired him to set himself a series of gruelling challenges, embarking on marathon treks usually kitted out in not much more than his trademark trunks even in the snow!

He’s since clocked up well over 6,000 miles and raised a phenomenal £1million.

Mick, who’s originally from Dovecot, set up his Speedo Mick Foundation so he could use the funds raised to give back to smaller grassroots charities and groups in recognition of those who helped him.

He’s been open about his own battles with addiction and mental health issues.

He admitted:

“I’ve been the homeless person you see in the shop doorway, the addict, the alcoholic, the hopeless case that had made so many bad decisions that they were sure there no way back from,”

“Today I am part of something that has given me back my self-respect, my confidence, my humility, and my sense of belonging.”

The Speedo Mick Foundation’s aim is to provide support for disadvantaged young people through education, to help relieve poverty, homelessness and support mental and physical health.

Mick’s personal goal has always to be reach out to the most vulnerable in our communities by showing compassion and understanding.

There’s a serious side to what he does, but one of the things that makes Speedo so special is his ability to connect with people.

Even when his body was giving out on his most recent 1,000-mile stomp from John O’Groats to Land’s End, he was still in his royal blue ‘knickers’, joking and dancing with supporters who came out to cheer him on.

Mick has just announced that he’ll be teaming up with Olympic gold medallist Fatima Whitbread for a new Polar challenge in February next year in temperatures down to minus 20.

And he’s got Everest base camp planned for later in the year, so there couldn’t be a more worthy winner of the title City Region Superhero.

“When we came up with the categories for Heroes, we knew there were a few that we wanted to surprise on the night,” says Jay.

“With City Region Superhero, for me it was about someone who does incredible things but also fights for what’s right and might have overcome something to take on a big feat, or raise money. 

“It’s what we all think of as a superhero put into a Scouser – and the first person that came to mind was Speedo Mick.

“What that guy has done over the years, with the background that he’s had and the things he’s had to overcome himself, is absolutely incredible.

“To raise over £1m so far, and not be stopping yet, he deserves to be our first City Region Superhero.”

Find out more about The Guide Liverpool Heroes here.

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