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Total raised so far

58%

£176,896.58 of £300,000 target +£20,776.40 Gift Aid See breakdown

Recent donations

14 hours ago

Anonymous

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

20 hours ago

David Teale

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

21 hours ago

Scott Reid

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Brilliant Cause and a real pleasure to gelp

3 days ago

Chris Snowden

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

3 days ago

Anonymous

£60.00

4 days ago

Jim Black

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

4 days ago

Simon & Jo

£40.00

+ £10.00 Gift Aid

5 days ago

Anonymous

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

5 days ago

Alan & Hazel

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Graham Souness rydych chi'n chwedl absoliwt

5 days ago

Bill Pearson

£25.00

Keep up the hard work

DEBRA UK Challenge 2024/25

Graeme Souness is raising money for DEBRA


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My story

Injuries, surgery, and the unpredictable British weather this summer prevented me and the team from completing our greatest challenge yet for DEBRA. We won’t be deterred though. In 2025 we will be back, and we WILL be the difference for EB.

Will you join us and be a part of Team DEBRA?

In 2023 me and my slightly crazy friends swam 30 miles from Dover to Calais. Our motivation? My friend, wee Isla Grist who lives with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, an incredibly painful genetic skin blistering condition that makes her skin as fragile as a butterfly’s wing.

We completed the challenge and made it to the shores of France in 12 hours 17 minutes and in doing so we raised awareness of EB and much-needed funds for DEBRA.

We are so grateful for all the support we received but we need to do more. There are more drugs that DEBRA needs to clinically test if we are to ensure that in the future there is an approved drug treatment for every form of EB, treatments that could help stop the extreme pain of EB.

So, next May we’re getting back in the water but this time we’ll be swimming to France…. and back!

Are you with us? You could sponsor us or set up your own fundraising challenge, perhaps a sponsored swimathon? Whatever you do will make a big difference for people living with EB.

Have a wonder Christmas and New Year and we’ll see you on the other side!

Thank you,

Graeme

P.S look out for regular updates on our training progress here in the New Year as we build up towards the big day!


Thank you for checking out my page. Making a donation is fast, easy and secure thanks to Give as you Live Donate. They'll take your donation and pass it onto DEBRA.

My updates

2 months ago

So, it’s been a few weeks since my last update and it’s been an interesting few weeks for me, to say the least! As you’re probably aware I’ve been struggling all year to fully recover from the shoulder surgery I had in January. This prevented me from taking part in the swim aspect of the challenge, but I was fully motivated to take on the cycling, even though I absolutely detest cycling!

That was the plan until a routine check-up with my heart surgeon a couple of weeks ago revealed that I needed heart surgery….again! This has now happened, and I am doing well but I can’t take on any strenuous physical activity for the next few months. If that wasn’t enough, the team has been battling the elements and haven't been able to take on the channel swim safely before the season finishes in early October.
 
Because of my physical situation and because the team is running out of time to get the swim in before the season ends, we’ve made the difficult decision to reschedule the challenge to next May. This then gives me time to fully recover from both my shoulder and heart surgeries so that I’m fighting fit to lead the team.
 
Please stay with me and the team on this journey. People like my good friend, Isla Grist, living with EB, face challenges and setbacks every day and yet they keep going. Their physical and mental strength is greater than any opponent I’ve ever encountered on the pitch, which is why we must keep going for them and we will complete this challenge.
 
You can help by sponsoring the challenge, by setting up your own fundraiser, or by telling your friends, family, colleagues, anyone you know about EB and the challenge we are taking on. With your support we can ensure a better future for everyone living with the pain of EB.
 
Please look out for updates on how my training is going as I get match fit!
 
Thank you for your continued support.
 
Graeme

3 months ago

Training is ramping up! I spent most of my bank holiday weekend on the bike. I must admit the training has been tough as I’m not built for cycling but I’ve been working hard.
 
Each time I get on that bike, I have Isla on my mind. I’ve spent a lot of time with her recently and each time I see her I’m reminded of why I’m doing another challenge. Isla lives with the excruciating pain and itch from EB daily.
 
Please keep up your support, spread the word and ask your friends and family to donate. Your donations encourage me and Team DEBRA to keep going, keep training and keep ‘BEing the difference for EB’.
 
Thank you.

Graeme Souness is fundraising for

DEBRA

Charity number: 1084958

Graeme Souness is fundraising as part of

BE the difference

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