DEBRA UK Challenge 2025

Good morning

Well, what a 48 hours that has been!

The swim was tough, no doubt about it. Of course, being double the distance was always going to be a big challenge but I found it hard, I really did. I think all the guys did, but they’re not all 72 next week!

The weather was nice, at least during the day, but I think the extreme heat (hottest May 1st ever!) made it extra hard. I struggled to stay hydrated and felt very ill at times. The water was also choppy, certainly at night, which made us all feel very queasy.

We did it though. The swim team were amazing, and the High Hopes crew were brilliant. Lindsey from DEBRA kept the energy up. And when I was flagging a Zoom call from my wee friend, Isla, gave me the motivation I needed to keep going.

It was then off the boat, grab some food and rest. Followed by an early start this morning for the Good Morning Britain interview!

It has been brilliant though; the publicity has been great for DEBRA and the EB community. It's hopefully made more people aware of the condition and what Isla must go through every day.

We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received from you guys. The many messages of goodwill and the generous sponsorship are very much appreciated. The funds raised through this challenge will make a difference. Thank you.

We’re not there yet though, the fight to stop the pain of EB goes on. There are any more drugs that we need to test. So, if you can stay with us on this journey, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Graeme

P.S. If you haven’t already done so there is still time to sponsor the challenge. And if you have been inspired to take on your own fundraising challenge, you can set one up right here on Give as you Live.

Good morning!

Graeme and the team have made it through the night to France and are now on the return leg.

They smashed their previous record and made it to the shores of France in 10 hours 53 minutes! What an incredible effort! The last time, they did it in 12 hours and 17 minutes, which was rapid!

Graeme has struggled a bit with cramp. The waters were a bit choppy last night too so the whole team felt queasy at times, but they powered on through. Watch the video for an insight of what it’s like swimming the channel at night!

So, this is it, the final push to Dover. We think they’ll make it back earlier than expected, possibly midday. Keep an eye on the website though for their up-to-date location cspf.co.uk/tracking

We’re now over 60% towards the fundraising target. A big thank you on the behalf of Graeme and the team. With your support we can make it 100%. You can sponsor Graeme and the team or set up your own fundraiser here on Give as you Live.

Thanks again for all your amazing support.

I’ll be back in touch when they touch down in Dover.

Hugh – DEBRA UK

At just after 1pm this afternoon, Graeme and the team took to the beautiful blue water at Dover.
 
The epic swim challenge to raise vital funding for EB research is happening RIGHT NOW!
 
Graeme is occupied in the water but wants to convey his sincere thanks for all the sponsorship received so far.
 
The team are making good progress but there is a long way to go. They have many more miles ahead of them over the next 26 hours.
 
Please help us spread the word. Let's make as many people as possible aware of what Graeme and the team are doing to support the EB community. Why not share this page on your social channels?
 
To stay up to date you can track their progress at cspf.co.uk/tracking. Their boat is called High Hopes.
 
There is still time to support Graeme and the team. You can sponsor them or set up your own fundraiser right here on Give as you Live. Every pound of sponsorship will make a big difference for people living with EB.
 
Thank you so much.
 
Hugh – DEBRA UK