The ex Liverpool captain said 'it will be brutal'
Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness (Image: DAILY RECORD)
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Graeme Souness said he is facing his "toughest challenge yet" as he issued an "urgent" plea. The former Liverpool midfielder won five league titles and three European cups during his time at Anfield in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Souness also won the FA Cup as Liverpool manager in 1992 and later became a regular pundit on football TV coverage. In the last few years, he has also embarked on a major fundraising drive for Debra UK, a charity supporting people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
EB, also known as “butterfly skin”, is a group of rare, painful genetic skin conditions that can cause the skin to blister and tear at even the slightest touch.
Souness has already raised millions of pounds for the charity through fundraising efforts, which have included several swims across the English Channel.
In his latest endeavour for DEBRA, the 73-year-old will climb Ben Nevis, Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) and Scafell Pike over the course of three days alongside three high-altitude swims.
Souness said: “This September, I’m taking on my toughest challenge yet for everyone living with the agony of EB.
“Three peaks. Three open-water swims. Three days.
"It will be brutal – but nothing compared to the pain children and adults with EB face every day.
“We urgently need to raise at least £500,000 to help fund another clinical trial and move closer to securing effective EB drug treatments for each of the main forms of EB.
“Please sponsor me. Every donation and every share matters. Please help make every step and every stroke count.”
The challenge forms part of DEBRA UK’s £20 million Stop the Pain appeal, which aims to fund better care for those with the condition while driving the development of treatments that could heal wounds faster and reduce pain.
Graeme Souness with Isla Grist
Graeme Souness with Isla Grist(Image: DEBRA)
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Souness has worked with young Isla Grist, who has the condition, since 2023. Speaking previously, he said: "I was truly blown away by the support we got back in 2023.
"I had to do something for my wee friend, Isla, and the thousands of other children and adults affected by this cruel condition.
"With the money raised DEBRA was able to start testing drugs which could be life-changing for people with EB, but there are many more drugs that they need to test if we are to secure effective treatments for every form of EB, treatments that could help stop the extreme pain of EB."
Souness’ challenge can be supported at www.debra.org.uk/graeme