Graeme Souness takes on three epic mountains in ‘relentless’ £500k charity problem
The former Liverpool and Rangers boss is hiking up Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike in three days and doing three high altitude swims near each peak
Graeme Souness, 73(Image: DEBRA)
Graeme Souness has completed a difficult hike up Mount Snowdon as he battles to raise funds for people suffering from rare skin conditions.
The former Rangers and Liverpool manager is taking on Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike over the course of three days alongside three high-altitude swims near each peak.
He’s hoping to raise at least £500,000 for Debra UK, a charity supporting people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Graeme said of his first big challenge: “Yesterday, I completed the first leg of my challenge, climbing Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) and swimming lake Llyn Glaslyn.
“The hike up Snowdon was relentless on my legs. The water during the first swim was absolutely freezing. It was an exhausting first day, and I know it will only get harder over the last two legs of the challenge.”
He added: “As tough as this feels though, it’s nothing compared to what people living with EB / butterfly skin face every day.
Souness is striving to raise at least £500K(Image: DEBRA)
“People like Jasmine, who recently joined me for the Good Morning Britain interview, live with pain that most of us can barely imagine.
“They don’t get a break from EB. That’s why I’m determined to keep going.
“I’m giving everything I’ve got this week. I’m so grateful for everyone’s support, and if you’ve already donated and helped spread the word, I can’t thank you enough.”
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.
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.
Souness has pulled back the lid on the gruelling challenge
Souness previously admitted he finds it hard to talk about children affected by horror skin diseases without crying.
He 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.
“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.”
The former Rangers ace, 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.”
