61-year-old vows to wear swim shorts on his trek to Everest base camp. There's $1.34 million riding on it
'I am going to do Everest in my knickers.' Speedo Mick declared to BBC Breakfast
At 17,598 feet at Everest Base Camp, the bone-chilling cold can numb even the fire, which is why most people are layered in heavy down jackets, thermal sweaters, and sub-zero sleeping bags while trekking. But Michael Cullen, from Liverpool, nicknamed “Speedo Mick,” will only wear his trademark Speedo trunks. He has decided to wrestle with the howling winds and battle the freezing temperatures to grab a reward of £1 million ($1.34 million). But it is not for him; it’s for a bigger cause, as he shared in a November 7, 2026, report with BBC Breakfast.
Speedo Mick’s 'biggest challenge' ever
Awarded Liverpool’s Citizen of Honour on May 9, 2024, Cullen has been participating in extraordinary endurance challenges to raise money for charities supporting mental health, disadvantaged young people, and homelessness. He has raised over £1m ($1,345,675) in fundraising challenges for more than 120 organizations in the past. But now, he is embarking on what he calls his “biggest challenge.”
Later this month, he will climb to the Everest base camp in Nepal at a -10°C (14°F) temperature. "I am going to do Everest in my knickers,” Cullen declared to BBC Breakfast. Although he feels the cold, he is willing to suffer for his cause, for people who suffer from mental health issues and suicidal ideation. "I do understand the risks—I always do. It will be a challenge to stay in my Speedos," the Everton fan explained.
Life hasn’t been kind to him; therefore, he is
This is not the first time Speedo Mick is attempting a harsh challenge in his Speedos. According to the Museum of Liverpool, Cullen has trekked over 2,000 miles across the UK and Ireland. He has also swum the frigid waters of the English Channel and climbed Ben Nevis and Yr Wyddfa, all in his Everton Football Club Speedos. Cullen’s inspiration for contribution to society comes from his own life. As he described in an October 29, 2026 Instagram post, life hasn’t been kind to him.
After spending years suffering from childhood trauma, mental health issues, and addiction, he reached out for help and, thankfully, got it. “I’ve had some very dark times. I know what it’s like to be struggling and need a helping hand. Thankfully, somebody gave me that help when I needed it most, and it changed my life,” he described. For the past 24 years, he has been living clean. His Speedo Mick Foundation is about “giving people a helping hand, supporting those going through tough times, and helping put a bit of hope back into lives where it might have been lost.”
Every mile has a purpose
In 2025 alone, Cullen’s foundation grants helped organizations supporting more than 1,000 people affected by homelessness, over 2,200 disadvantaged young people, 910 people affected by mental health issues, and 63 people in rehabilitation. “I am taking on my biggest challenge yet. And I want to make a difference along the way,” he remarked on Instagram.
The journey begins
According to his GoFundMe campaign, Speedo Mick will fly to Nepal on November 12, 2026. The 61-year-old will then fly to Scotland for a 1,000-mile walk from John O'Groats to Land's End as well as climb Britain's three highest mountains to raise a further £1m (~$1,345,000) as part of the “Three Peaks challenge.” Cullen likes to call it his “Four Peaks Challenge.” He anticipates that Nepalese would be “cool” with his “Everton trunks” outfit. “Time to get the walking boots ready…and I suppose I’d better dig those blue Speedos out again,” he exclaimed.
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