Graeme Souness fights back tears on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning as he announces a huge next move after leaving Sky Sports.
The ex-Liverpool, Rangers, and Scotland player will swim the English Channel in order to raise funds for a charity that helps people with rare skin conditions.
After meeting Isla Grist, from Inverness, Souness announced that he is going to swim for 16 hours.
The 14-year old has Dystrophic, Recessive Epidermolysis Bullosa. This is a genetic disorder that causes the skin to rip or blister with the slightest of touches.
Souness called Isla “unbelievably brave” when speaking in his emotional interview.
The TV pundit aims to raise £1.1m (£1.0m) for the Debra Charity, which supports Isla as well as about 5,000 other people living in the UK with an incurable condition known as “butterfly-skin”.
Isla’s condition has been present since she was born. She must be covered from head to toe with bandages that are changed every three weeks.
Andy, the father of Souness, will join him on this 21-mile swim from England to France.
The two are raising money to support Debra’s “A Life Free of Pain”, which is intended to help pay for clinical trials of drug treatments that may improve the quality of living for people with butterfly-like skin.
‘It’s the cruellest, nastiest, disease.. this is a very special young lady and she gets me in tears every time’
Former footballer Graeme Souness told #BBCBreakfast why he’s swimming the Channel to raise funds for the charity DEBRA – details on their website pic.twitter.com/2QUEoYfLaG
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 22, 2023
Former Liverpool footballer Graeme Souness is swapping being a TV pundit to swim the English Channel.
The 70 year old told #BBCBreakfast he’s doing it for the charity DEBRA which supports people living with Epidemolysis Bullosa pic.twitter.com/nXoL0aazZA
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 22, 2023
Souness: “Isla is the most unique human being I’ve ever met and she does this to me every time, I am.
“She’s an inspiration to me, even at my age.
“I came across this disease five years ago.
“I went to dinner in London.
“There was a young lady there who’s a sufferer, her name was Maya from Birmingham.
“And then I got in touch with DEBRA Scotland, because I thought England be taken care of.
“And then we became mates, didn’t we?
“And, you know, I am football.
“Football does its bit for charity.
“You know, players are much maligned, much criticised, but football does its bit.
“And throughout my life, I’ve had the good fortune to spend time with people who have not been very well.
“But I knew nothing about this disease.
“This disease is a cruelest, excuse me, I knew this would happen.
“It’s the cruelest, nastiest disease out there that I know of.
“And for someone so young to be so brave and Isla is aware of the impact this has on her mum and dad and she helps them.
‘This is a very special young lady you’re in the company of. She really is.
“And she gets me in tears every time I’m in her company.
“I’m involved because I’ve got a bit of a profile and I knew nothing about this.
“I’d never heard of this disease.
“And the vast majority of people out there watching the show today will know nothing about this disease.
“And if please do a little bit of research and see how nasty this is to the sufferers and the impact it has on the families.
“And if you can get involved, please get involved.
“And I just hope that it properly punched me on the nose when I first witnessed a sufferer.
“You’d have to be some special human being if you were to meet Isla or any other poor children who are sufferers, not to be moved by it.
“And I just plead with anyone who can do a bit for us, whether it’s a super rich man that takes us on board and says, this is something I’m going to go after and help these poor kids, because we must bring relief to them. Every single day is a chore.
“Every single moment they’re awake, they’re in pain.
“If it’s not, they’re actually in pain.
“When they have their dressings changed, they have these serious, serious struggles to take the pain away. And she’s just an absolute hero. You’re just.”
You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking HERE.
This is how viewers reacted as Graeme Souness fights back tears when he announces a huge next move after leaving Sky Sports…
@Gazpics76: So moving to see this , will definitely be supporting the guys . Isla is an amazing girl … was heartbreaking to watch 🥲
@AndyNufc48: Fair play to Souness 👏 I hadn’t heard of this disease, done a bit of research and it’s absolutely awful like 😔
@96barrettsa: Love this. Souness was always my favourite pundit and glad he’s doing something for good in his retirement.
@gstackie: Souness is a good egg in fairness to him
@sl8r7: There’s lots of panto hatred in football but you have to take your hat off to somebody who gets so personally involved to try to help. There are calls for celebs to do this quietly or be labelled a narcissist but coverage is the biggest thing they can contribute. 🙌Graeme Souness
@ToffeeDaft: Souness gets a very bad rep from football fans. Especially Evertonians! The guy was playing a character for Sky for years, a bit like Roy Keane is doing now! But every time i see him give genuine incite or show the real guy, he comes across a good fella!
@DaveyMac1967: I’ve just set up a monthly donation. An inspirational young lady and we’ll done Graeme Souness for doing this. Not been his biggest fan but right behind him on this 👏👍
@ETimsNet: We all have our fitba rivalries, banter, wind-ups, inane shouts and screams and in most cases rightly so…but…this is life and trying to help people suffering terrible pain. Big bravo to Graeme Souness 👏
@rott_010: Not a fan of souness but fair play on this occasion
@DannyKirkles: My cousin suffered from this terrible condition until he sadly passed away at a young age. It is such an awful affliction. It’s fantastic that Graeme Souness is using his profile to raise awareness like this. Good on him. 👏🏼
@MonicaS63776554: What a legend got a heart of gold
@fluff164: A true gentleman and someone that genuinely cares. Go for it big man
@maggie_martyn: Good luck Graeme. What a fantastic thing to do. Colours mean nothing when you see things like this 💙👍
@tonypike11: Top man Graeme, ignore as I am sure you will the haters. Great cause and wish nothing but the best of luck to Isla and her family 👏👏
@RaeBruce1983: Huge respect to Graeme Souness for doing this. So much compassion from him. Very emotional.
@Petti_1972: Top bloke 💙
@AlanFRob42: That’s tough hard but top top man doing his best for that little girl and others struck by that wicked illness – all the greatest respect to the lovely girl and her family and to Graeme who people shouldn’t forget has had major heart issues himself 👏👍👍
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