Graeme Souness admits it ‘makes him cry’ to see youngsters with ‘excruciating’ illness
Graeme Souness has admitted he finds it hard to talk about children affected by a horrific skin disease without crying.
The Liverpool and Scotland legend, 73, said that he would do “anything” to help fight epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a condition which is also known as butterfly skin. He said every day living with it is a “Groundhog Day” for those affected adding that its sufferers are the “toughest” people he’s met.
People affected by the condition have skin that blisters and tears at the slightest touch, meaning everyday life is filled with relentless pain, open wounds and the constant fear of injury.
Souness is the president of EB charity DEBRA (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for BGC Group)
The football hero is planning to climb Mount Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis in three days while also completing three high-altitude open-water swims near the peaks as part of a massive fundraising effort for children and adults living with it.
He first heard about it after meeting a young girl, Isla Grist, with the condition, with the former player and pundit admitting that he felt as though he’d been “punched and kicked in the nose” when he discovered what she went through.
Since then, he’s been dedicated to raising money and awareness of it and has been campaigning alongside brave 13-year-old Jasmine Ritchie, who lives with the condition.
A deeply emotional Souness told the Daily Star: “It makes me cry. If you were to see what I’ve seen, you would cry. I find it hard to talk about it. Every day is a Groundhog Day.
Souness says the horrific disease makes him “cry”(Image: Humphrey Nemar/daily mirror)
“They wake up to excruciating, unbelievable pain and itching. It impacts every single member of their family, every single day of their lives. They’re tougher than the toughest man I’ve met. Considering what they go through, they just get on with it.”
Souness is undertaking the extraordinary fundraising effort to raise money for DEBRA, a charity supporting people with the skin disease.
The former Rangers player, who visited the Daily Star’s HQ last week, said: “This is a fight for me. As long as I’m able to join the fight physically and mentally, I’ll be involved. If I ever feel sorry for myself during the challenge, I’ll just think of these kids and how lucky I am.”
Souness spoke to the Daily Star about the campaign (Image: Humphrey Nemar/daily mirror)
The Three Peaks challenge, taking place from September 15 to 17, forms part of DEBRA’s Stop the Pain appeal. He hopes to raise at least £500,000 to support people living with EB and help fund research into potentially life-changing treatments. Donations can be made here.
