WHILE most people were wrapping up against the cold, one man donned a "mankini" to paint a wall with a toothbrush.
For the past six months, the face of Isaac Manzoor, a 20-month-old boy with cerebral palsy, has adorned the side of Gracie's Dress Agency in Reigate.
The colourful mural was painted by Redhill artist Uncle Stubble – real name Tim Stiling – to help raise £60,000 so young Isaac can have an operation only available in America which could enable him to walk.
But not everyone was happy with the new-look wall, with several people complaining to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council about the mural.
The complaints prompted Isaac's mum Louise Elliott to ask Mark O'Connor to paint over the creation on Sunday last week, after he suggested on Facebook he could repaint it while naked.
Miss Elliott suggested a mankini – a male bikini made famous by the film Borat – might be more suitable.
Mr O'Connor, 43, said: "It was really cold. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of people who came down to support it. I was really only expecting one or two people to be there for just a couple of minutes, so to have that group of people who stayed until the end was great. In a weird way I was warmer than them because I had something to do."
Mr O'Connor, a training consultant who lives in Redhill, said he was disappointed complaints had led to the work needing to be removed. But he thanked The Shed DIY in Church Street, Reigate, for donating the paint.
Miss Elliott, of Stuart Road, South Park, said: "It was great to see all the support and lots of cheering and beeping from cars going past. He started off with a toothbrush because that was the original plan, but it was so cold I said, 'Get your roller'."
Overall, Mr O'Connor's efforts raised £1,310 on the day for the Hope for Isaac campaign. Miss Elliot said she will miss the mural but added: "It's done its job. It has raised so much awareness for Isaac. If it wasn't for that people wouldn't have known about him. It's just brought in so much support for us, I think it's been the most important part of the fundraising process."
Jeanine Boobyer, the manager of Gracie's, said: "I'm sad to see it go, it's been a lovely talking point for a good cause. I would be quite happy if another charity wanted to approach me, it's lovely to have something like that up."
Uncle Stubble added: "It's fine, it was never going to be there for good. Obviously it's a little sad to see it go because it was a bit of colour in Reigate."
To contribute to Hope for Isaac and see planned events, go to www.justgiving.com/Hope4isaac
