However, not everyone will be nice and warm this Valentine’s Day. One person that comes to mind is Speedo Mick, a die hard Everton fan, who has taken up the task of walking the length of the UK: from John O'Groats to Lands End.
No, he hasn’t had too much to drink over Christmas. He’s decided to take up the task to raise money for charity ‘Leave The Light On’, who help anyone, young or old, struggling with depression and loneliness.
This isn’t the first time he’s taken on a long distance trek for charity. In 2018 he raised £20,809 for Alder Hey Children’s Charity, and walked from Everton FC to Lyon FC. Why? Well, to quote Mick: “They take care of the most precious things we are ever likely to have in our lives. Our children”.
If you don’t want to take my word that he’s an Everton fan, one look at Mick and you can tell he loves the club. Wielding a strong scouse accent, a typical northern resistance to the cold, and an Everton hat, scarf and speedo combination, means that everywhere he goes he’s promoting his club.
As you can imagine, though, it hasn't been smooth sailing. He's had to stop at time due to injury, particularly his calf which received major swelling early on, and also battling through piercing winds during Storm Ciara.
As of today, he’s made it just outside Exeter, with only a few stops left before he reaches his goal. His location can be tracked using the following link:
https://www.google.com/maps/
This recent adventure has been by far his most successful, currently sitting on over £180,000 raised for Leave The Light On.
On Valentine's Day, most people give out red love hearts. For Mick, it will always be blue.
Keep on going Mick. You're doing us Everton fans proud
Go on. Spread the seasonal cheer. If you’re feeling the spirit, the following link will take you to his GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/speedomick-1000-ml-charity