Football legend and DEBRA UK President Graeme Souness CBE is taking on his toughest Graeme Souness DEBRA challenge yet — and Scottish stars are joining him — to raise at least £500,000

Three peaks. Three open-water swims. Three punishing days across England, Wales and Scotland this September — all to support DEBRA UK’s £20 million Stop the Pain appeal.

EB — known as “butterfly skin” — is a rare, intensely painful genetic condition where skin blisters and tears at the slightest touch. Everyday life brings constant pain, open wounds and fear of injury for children and adults living with it.

Joining Graeme on the challenge are:

Harry Clark, winner of BBC’s The Traitors Series 2
Callum Beattie, Scottish singer-songwriter
Scott Brown, former Scotland international and Celtic captain
Kevin Kealy, living with EB Simplex, completing every leg
Calum Blackman, from the EB community, dad to three-year-old Albi, who has recessive dystrophic EB

Graeme said:

“This September, I’m taking on my toughest challenge yet for everyone living with the agony of EB. Three peaks. Three open-water swims. Three days. It will be brutal — but nothing compared to the pain children and adults with EB face every day.
“We urgently need to raise at least £500,000 to help fund another clinical trial and move closer to effective EB drug treatments. Please sponsor me. Every donation and every share matters. Please help make every step and every stroke count.”

This follows Graeme’s earlier DEBRA UK challenges: a 30-mile Channel swim in 2023 that raised £1.2 million, and a return swim in 2025 that raised nearly £730,000, bringing vital funds, national awareness and support to families affected by EB.

📖 How to help

Search DEBRA to donate, or visit: www.debra.org.uk/graeme

Every donation helps fund life-changing research, improve daily life for people with EB, and brings effective treatments closer.