Graeme Souness CBE has completed his toughest DEBRA UK challenge yet: three peaks, three open-water swims and three punishing days across England, Wales and Scotland in September, to raise at least £500,000 for people living with the agony of epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
EB, also known as “butterfly skin”, is a group of rare, devastating and intensely painful genetic skin conditions that cause the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch. For children and adults living with EB, everyday life can mean relentless pain, open wounds and constant fear of injury.
Funds raised will support DEBRA UK, the national EB charity, helping to improve quality of life today and accelerate research into potentially life-changing drug treatments.
This tough new challenge forms a key part of DEBRA UK’s urgent £20m Stop the Pain appeal, which aims to fund better care now and drive the development of treatments that could heal EB wounds faster, reduce pain and itch, and bring hope of a future free from the agony of EB.
Graeme was joined by Harry Clark, winner of BBC’s The Traitors series 2; Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie; former Scotland international and Celtic captain Scott Brown; and members of the EB community, including Kevin Kealy, who has EB simplex and completed every leg, and Calum Blackman, dad to three-year-old Albi, who has recessive dystrophic EB.
Talking about the challenge, Graeme said: “We did it. After three punishing days, three mountains and three open-water swims, the team and I completed our toughest challenge yet.
“It was brutal. The climbs punished our legs, the cold water took our breath away and every stage pushed us to the limit. But humour, humility and the EB community kept us moving.
I struggled with leg pain but the pain passed. For people living with EB — “butterfly skin”, so fragile that the slightest touch can cause blistering and wounds — it does not. They face relentless pain, itch and hours of treatment every day.
“The public’s generosity has brought our £500,000 target closer and reaching it could help DEBRA UK fund another clinical trial for a life-changing EB treatment.
“Thank you to everyone who has donated for standing with our team, DEBRA UK and everyone living with EB. Your support means more than I can say.”
The challenge follows Graeme’s previous fundraising efforts for DEBRA UK, including a 30-mile English Channel swim in 2023 with Team DEBRA UK, which raised more than £1.2 million and helped boost the charity’s ‘A Life Free of Pain’ appeal.
In 2025, Graeme and his team completed another epic endurance swim across the Channel and back, raising almost £730,000 for further drug testing and reaching an estimated 10 million people through national media coverage. Together, these challenges have raised vital funds, increased awareness and helped more people affected by EB discover DEBRA UK’s support.
To sponsor Graeme, search ‘DEBRA’ to donate or visit www.debra.org.uk/graeme.
Donations could help fund potentially life-changing research, improve quality of life for people with EB, and bring effective treatments closer.
ENDS