Locals have raised more than £32,000 in less than a day to repair and protect the mural of England footballer Marcus Rashford in his hometown after it was defaced by vandals following the Euro 2020 final loss to Italy.
Withington Walls, a street art project in the Manchester suburb, set up the crowdfunder when the mural was graffitied with racist abuse following Rashford’s penalty miss at Wembley in the European Championship final.
”The response in Withington, Manchester and across the nation has been unbelievable,” the organisation said. “We are proud to be a part of it too.” The mural was created by local street artist Akse in partnership with Withington Walls to recognise the footballer’s determined campaigning against child food poverty.
“The England team may have lost, but they have done us proud on and off the pitch,” an organisation spokesperson added. “This team has shown us the nation we can be. They have proved that diversity is our strength.”
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Akse repaired the mural today, July 13, as onlookers watched. The money raised will go towards repairing costs, Withington Walls said, and any surplus will be spent on CCTV, protective paint or additional artworks in the area. Nearly 1,800 people have donated to the cause so far.
