Former Football Legend Raises Over 1 Million For Epidermolysis Bullosa Research

Graeme Souness Completes Charity Swim Across English Channel

Former Football Legend Raises Over £1 Million for Epidermolysis Bullosa Research

Souness Swims 21 Miles to Support EB Sufferers

Former footballer and TV pundit Graeme Souness has completed a 21-mile charity swim across the English Channel, raising over £1 million for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) research.

Souness, 68, set off from Dover, England, on Sunday morning and arrived in Calais, France, just over 10 hours later. He was joined by a team of swimmers, including his son James, and was cheered on by his wife Karen and other family members.

The swim was a huge success, with Souness smashing his original fundraising target of £1 million. The money raised will go to the charity DEBRA, which supports people living with EB, a rare and debilitating skin condition that causes the skin to blister and peel at the slightest touch.

"I'm so grateful to everyone who has supported me," said Souness. "This swim was a huge challenge, but it was nothing compared to what people living with EB go through every day. I hope that the money we have raised will make a real difference to their lives."

Souness's swim was the latest in a series of high-profile events that have raised awareness of EB. In 2016, swimmer Ross Edgley became the first person to swim around the entire coast of Great Britain in support of DEBRA.

EB is a rare and debilitating skin condition that affects around 500 people in the UK. It is caused by a genetic mutation that results in the production of faulty proteins that are essential for the skin's structure. This results in the skin becoming extremely fragile and prone to blistering and peeling.

There is currently no cure for EB, but research is ongoing to find new treatments and therapies. DEBRA provides support to people living with EB and their families, and funds research into the condition.

Souness's swim has been hailed as a major boost for EB research. The money raised will help DEBRA to continue its vital work and bring hope to people living with this devastating condition.