Bighearted Graeme Souness has raised nearly £1.5million for skin charity Debra after his English Channel swim - and donations are continuing to flood in a week on from the challenge.
The 70-year-old football legend was inspired to take on the endurance test by 14-year-old Scots schoolgirl Isla Grist. He set out to raise £1.1million for charity, which will be used to help Isla and other children who suffer from epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
The painful skin condition, which is known as “butterfly skin”, causes the skin to tear or blister at the slightest touch, leaving sufferers in extreme pain. Graeme was part of a swim team including Isla's dad Andy, and four others.
They set off from Dover on the 21-mile trip to Calais last Saturday night at 10pm and completed the swim in 12 hours and 17 minutes. And this morning dozens of donations continued to come in to the fundraiser, which has now brought in over £1.47million.
Generous fans said they had been moved to tears by the story. Kirsty Foulkes donated £100, with £25 Gift Aid, and wrote: "Inspired by the BBC documentary this morning.
"Moved to tears by the incredible braveness of Isla and the many suffering this terrible condition. Well done to the swimming team!" Dave Lennett also said he became emotional with what he'd witnessed.
The comment attached to his £20 donation, which included £5 of Gift Aid, said: "Amazing work from all who swam and the support team. Listening to Graeme brought me to tears too. We must find a cure for this."
Jeff Davy donated £50 this morning and posted: "Graeme, full admiration for your efforts. To everybody else working with this charity and others like it in the fight against this terrible medical condition, you are true heroes."
Chris Tilley and Keith Clarke both donated £20. Chris wrote: "Amazing teams supporting such a courageous young girl. Thank you for raising awareness of EB." Keith said: "A magnificent effort by Graeme and the team to contribute to eliminating this awful disease."
The £1.1million target came from the fact that former Liverpool and Rangers manager Souness wore the number 11 during his playing days. The former Scotland captain won three European Cups and 26 other trophies in a glittering career.
But he told the Record football was nothing compared to the challenge of swimming the channel for such an important cause. The cash raised will be given to scientists.
It's hoped they will be able to tweak already existing skin condition creams and drugs to treat EB or even find a cure. You can donate by visiting https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/debraswim.
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