Graeme Souness completes gruelling English Channel swim as fundraiser smashes through £1million mark

RANGERS legend Graeme Souness has completed his gruelling English Channel swim fundraiser.

And the charity appeal has smashed through the £1million mark.

The 70-year old undertook the remarkable challenge in aid of DEBRA, a charity that helps people suffering with skin disorder Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), which is also known as ‘butterfly skin.’

Souness met and got to know 14-year old Isla Grist and her family, inspiring him to take on the almighty challenge.

The youngster, from Black Isle near Inverness, lives with the debilitating condition, which means her skin can blister and tear easily with friction.

She wears bandages to protect her skin, but even changing the dressings can be painful.

A tearful Souness appeared on television last month as he explained why he was taking on the big swim.

He said: “It’s the most horrendous disease. If you’re inflicted by it you must wake up every morning and say why me. It’s a desperate situation.

“And then the parents have to deal with that. And that’s why we’re doing this.

“From the time I have spent with Isla and her family, I have seen first-hand the extreme pain this devastating condition causes and the daily challenges it creates for them.

“I wanted to do something that could make a difference to Isla’s life and to the lives of so many others living with EB and the slightly crazy idea of swimming the English Channel was suggested.”

And today was the day for the big challenge to take place.

Souness was part of a six-man strong relay team, that also included Isla’s dad Andy.

The had set a target of £1.1m, and it smashed through the £1m mark while the swim was taking place.

The team set-off in darkness with the first swimmer entering the water shortly before 11.30pm on Saturday night.

12 hours and 17 minutes later, they completed the gruelling challenge by touching land in France.

DEBRA posted: “They did it.

“A huge congratulations to Graeme, Andy, Sean, Steph, Rob and Andy M for completing their English Channel swim, raising over £1million to #StopThePain for people living with EB.”

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