WATCH: Speedo Mick makes £2000 donation to 'fantastic' charity Mikeysline on way from Inverness to Loch Ness
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A SPEEDO-wearing John O'Groats to Land's End trekker has chipped in a £2000 donation to one of the best known mental health charities in the Highlands.
Michael Cullen (57), better known as Speedo Mick, confirmed the donation as he arrived at Loch Ness after braving a section of the A82 during his "stomp".
During his chilly progress through the Highlands, Mr Cullen on several occasions flagged the importance of raising awareness of tackling mental health and suicide prevention, referring to recent closures of the Kessock Bridge.
Mikeysline representatives joined him for a brief spell of his trek on the outskirts of Inverness and later posted: "It was great to be out this morning with Speedo Mick who is walking from John O’Groats to Land’s End to raise awareness and funds through his foundation for mental health and suicide prevention causes
"Mick’s foundation has made an incredible donation of £2000 to Mikeysline as part of his final 1000-mile walk across the UK! We are so grateful for the support!
We walked just a little part of this incredible journey with him, keep an eye out for him on the A82 today – he’s probably the only Evertonian in budgie-smugglers out on the road!"
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Speedo Mick feeling the love – and the chill – through the Highlands
In a video update from Loch Ness, Mick confirmed the donation.
He said: "The temperature rises every time I see another donation going on the page. It's amazing what's happening. We visited a fantastic charity today that we donated £2000 to called Mikeysline. That's because of your donations."
He signed off: "Am off to have a bacon butty with Nessie now."
What is Mikeysline and how can I access its services?
Mikesyline offers confidential support for those in emotional distress, mental health issues and/or in crisis.
Mikeysline was founded in December 2015 after a number of suicides in the Highland area. The service has grown across the Highlands ever since. It says: "People struggle on a daily basis with a multitude of emotional and mental health difficulties and we are here to change that."
Text-based services
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 6pm to 10pm and Friday/Saturday 7pm to 7am.
TEXT 07786 20 77 55 or contact via Facebook Messenger, Twitter, WhatsApp or live web chat at www.mikeysline.co.uk.
The Hive Centre, 19 Academy Street, Inverness
Face to face support for Adults & Young People
Appointments - 6.15pm and 7pm every evening (except public holidays) – to book an appointment please email visit www.mikeysline.co.uk/appointments
Drop -in: You can drop-in to the Hive for support every evening from 7.45pm to 9.45pm - Sunday to Thursday or until 10.45pm on Friday and Saturday.
The Hive Outreach Centres:
Tain - Face to face Support for Adults & Young People
New venue to be announced soon.
Alness - Face to face Support for Adults & Young People
Every Wednesday 4.30pm - 8pm - 61 High Street, Alness - for your peace of mind, this is a private, confidential, safe space kindly donated by The Place and which is only open to Mikeysline to provide support during these hours. To book appointments please visit www.mikeysline.co.uk/appointments.
Nairn - Face to face Support for Adults & Young People
Every Saturday 6pm - 10pm - 17a Acre Street, Nairn - for your peace of mind, this is a private, confidential, safe space kindly donated by Highland Yoga Collective and which is only open to Mikeysline to provide support during these hours. To book appointments please visit www.mikeysline.co.uk/appointments.
Source: Mikeysline Facebook page
