Graeme Souness to swim Channel twice to raise money for rare skin condition

A friendship between a Highland teenager and a Scottish footballing legend is raising funds to help children with a devastating skin condition.

Isla Grist from the Black Isle lives with what’s known as Butterfly Skin.

The 16-year-old inspired Graeme Souness to swim the English Channel in 2023 – now he’s planning to do it again.

The former Scotland footballer has put his passion into fundraising for charity DEBRA, which raises awareness of the agonising skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa.

In 2023, Graeme, who is vice-president of DEBRA UK, swam the English Channel for the charity after striking up a friendship with Highland schoolgirl Isla Grist, who suffers from EB.

His efforts raised £1.5m.

He will swim the Channel and back again in May – doubling his challenge distance.

Graeme, who will swim in a relay with a team, said: “You are in the water for an hour, out for five and last time we did it in just under 13 hours.”

“This time, we are going to attempt to do that and then turn around and come back again!”

Graeme Souness to swim Channel again to raise money for rare skin condition. STV News

Isla, who lives on the Black Isle, was in too much pain to join STV News for an interview.

Graeme says it’s the teenager’s strength that spurs him on.

He hopes the money raised can help continue research into using existing medicines to treat aspects of EB – and help more people like Isla.

Graeme said: “It’s personal. I have seen what it’s done to her. It’s robbed her of any quality of life.

“People talk about strong personalities and people who never give up and tough guys… I can assure you, footballers, we don’t register. Just witness what these children go through on a minute-by-minute basis.”