Graeme Souness has set out his next task to help fundraise for the Epidemolysis Bullosa (EB) charity DEBRA
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Graeme Souness during an ITV broadcast
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness.(Image: Allstar via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness is set to embark on his 'biggest challenge yet' aiming to raise another £750,000 for the charity, DEBRA, who offer support to individuals living with Epidemolysis Bullosa (EB).
The 71-year-old, who played 359 games for the Reds in a glittering Anfield career, before going on to manage the club and then become a TV pundit. Shortly after exiting full-time television work, the Scotsman successfully swam the English channel and raised £1.5m for DEBRA, of whom he is a vice-president.
They refer to themselves as 'The Butterfly Skin Charity', hoping to fund medical research and patient care for the 5,000 in the UK and 500,000 globally who live with the incurable genetic skin blistering condition. Last year, again with DEBRA, he worked in a relay team doing the 85-mile cycle from Dover to London, shortly after he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on King Charles III's birthday honours list in June.
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Now Souness has been announced for his next fundraising mission, returning to the English Channel he conquered two years ago. However, different to the previous time the former Anfield hero is going to be a part of a team of six who are going to do double the distance swimming to France and back again.
"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," he said.
DEBRA Vice President, Graeme Souness CBE with Isla Grist, 17, who has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
DEBRA Vice President, Graeme Souness CBE with Isla Grist, 17, who has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
"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.
"This is why we’re getting back in the water once again. It’s going to be tough; I’m 72 now and it’s double the distance, but I know we can do this, we must do this, we must BE the difference for EB."
Souness and his fellow swimmers are hoping to take on the challenge of swimming the channel twice over in May, 'time and tide depending'. It is their ultimate goal to raise another £750,000 for the charity that could fund a further two EB clinical trials, which are focused on testing existing licensed drugs that already successfully treat other inflammatory skin conditions like severe eczema and psoriasis. These could be effective in improving the symptoms of EB.
For more information about EB please visit www.debra.org.uk and to sponsor Graeme and the team please visit www.give.as/debra.