A Londoner is embarking on a ‘poop bucket list’ of London’s most amazing toilets in a drive to raise money for charity.
Paul Silver, 32, who suffers from bowel condition Crohn’s Disease, hopes to visit facilities at the Shard, the Royal Albert Hall and the Houses of Parliament as part of an effort to make the most of his last opportunities to use a conventional loo.
In April he will go under the knife so surgeons can fix a colostomy bag to his abdomen.
But until then the web developer from Enfield will be blogging about his experiences in some of London’s “most amazing” WCs.
Today Mr Silver told the Standard he hoped the light-hearted toilet tour, which he has labelled "My Final Poops", would raise awareness of his condition as well as raising money for a good cause.
“It started as a bit of a joke,” he said. “I told people about how I would like my final poo to be at the top of the Shard.
“But then I realised there so many potential places where I’ve not been. And that’s where the idea came from.”
Mr Silver, who was diagnosed with Crohn's aged 12, is raising money on a JustGiving page for charity Crohn's and Colitis in Childhood, which funds research into the conditions.
He said he hoped the challenge would encourage people to be more open about the issue.
“It’s something that everyone does, and I think the more people who talk about it the better.
“When I was a child I didn’t go to see any medical professionals because I was embarrassed. So maybe if this can get people talking it’ll be a good thing.”
He added: “So far people have been really positive.
“I’m doing this for charity. I know there’s a serious message, but everything I’ve done in my life I’ve done with a sense of humour.
“And there must be a point in my life where I lost my dignity."
Mr Silver has three weeks to complete his challenge of visiting about 10 of London’s best toilets before surgeons at the Royal Free Hospital remove part of his bowel and attach a colostomy bag to this abdomen on April 21.
Mayfair’s Sketch restaurant also features on the bucket list and Mr Silver has taken to the internet for further ideas on toilets to visit.
You can find out more on his website and donate here
