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Topic Originator: wee eck
Date: Mon 22 May 12:13
I must admit this story brought a tear to my eye:-
Football legend Graeme Souness plans to swim the English Channel to help people living with a rare skin condition. The former Liverpool, Rangers and Scotland player fought back tears as he told the BBC that Epidermolysis bullosa was the "cruellest disease out there". He was inspired to take on the 16-hour challenge after meeting Isla Grist from the Scottish Highlands. The 14-year-old`s condition, known as "butterfly skin", causes the skin to tear or blister at the slightest touch. The 70-year-old former player and manager choked back tears as he described Isla as "the most unique person I`ve ever met". Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said: "She does this to me every time. She`s an inspiration to me - even at my age."
The former TV pundit is aiming to raise £1.1m for the Debra charity, which supports Isla and about 5,000 people in the UK who currently live with the genetic condition. There is no cure although mild forms may improve with age.Isla, from Black Isle, near Inverness, has had her condition since birth and has to be wrapped head to toe in bandages, which are changed three times a week.
Souness said he first became aware of the disease about five years ago. He said he had now become "mates" with Isla, whose courage was an inspiration to him. "This disease... it`s the cruellest, nastiest disease. For someone so young to be so brave... and Isla`s aware of the impact this has on her mum and dad and she helps them," he said, clearly struggling with his emotions. "This is a very special young lady you`re in the company of, she really is, and I am… she gets me in tears every time I`m in her company." The teenager`s father Andy will swim alongside Souness on the 21-mile journey from England to France.
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Topic Originator: Bletchley_Par
Date: Tue 23 May 01:46
I heard Souness talk about Isla and this condition a few weeks back on the Up Front with Simon Jordan podcast. He stated that working with kids with this condition changed him as a person and turned him into an atheist as "no god would inflict something so terrible on people".
It is a truly desperate condition for these children to endure. I had not heard of the condition before, but checked it out and was compelled to make a donation and will be sponsoring Graeme in his swim too.
A worthy cause if ever there was one.
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Topic Originator: DunPar
Date: Tue 23 May 02:47
Fair play to Souness. Despite being a bluenose, I’ll be donating to this one.
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Tue 23 May 06:48
Quote:
DunPar, Tue 23 May 02:47
Fair play to Souness. Despite being a bluenose, I’ll be donating to this one.
Souness could be one arrogant pup, but he was never a proper, paid up bluenose, DunPar. He was offered a lucrative contract to become player/manager of Rangers, so he accepted it. One of his first signings was Mo Johnston - a Catholic who had posed in a Celtic strip just days beforehand. (He had already had a spell at Parkhead before heading to France to play for Nantes.)
Of course, Celtic fans were incandescent, a fact which helped the more extreme elements in the Ibrox fan base to swallow this unpalatable decision and when wee Mo scored the only goal in his first OF match, he became their pin up.
Eta. His fav team was and still is, Liverpool.
Not your average Sunday League player.
Post Edited (Tue 23 May 06:50)
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Topic Originator: LochgellyAlbert
Date: Tue 23 May 09:16
Souness was well known for going AWOL as a kid when he first started out at Tottenham, heading home to Edinburgh because he was homesick.
Respect to him for raising awareness to this illness.
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Topic Originator: dover par
Date: Tue 23 May 09:41
So far raised over £240k in 24hrs.after yesterday appearing on the BBC
"Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing."
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Topic Originator: Buspasspar
Date: Tue 23 May 12:04
Had me crying when I watched it wee eck
We are forever shaped by the Children we once were
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Topic Originator: parfection
Date: Tue 23 May 12:36
I think the most impressive aspect was the maturity and acceptance of the wee lass herself. Very easy to see why Souness was so taken with her. Good luck to him and everyone involved.
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Topic Originator: DunPar
Date: Tue 23 May 15:25
GG - I agree with you……..if he was a real bigoted bluenose then I wouldn’t have been so polite……..but then again I’ve met Ally McCoist and Ian Durrant who are fully paid up……..but they were/are quick witted and funny as feck……..very sound fellas……..
(Sorry - didn’t mean to infer mccoist or durrant are bigots……….just fully paid up bluenoses).
Post Edited (Tue 23 May 15:27)
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Topic Originator: onandupthepars
Date: Tue 23 May 17:38
I believe it`s the same condition that Jonny Kennedy had. DEBRA made a film about his last days, called "The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off" as he set about fund-raising and raising awareness. His condition was EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa) and DEBRA is the EB charity. The film was first shown on Channel 4 in 2004. You can watch it here:
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-boy-whose-skin-fell-off
Coincidentally, only today (yes 19 years after I saw the film,) I still thought of him and felt tearful for him, prompted by hearing the song he chose for his funeral, which was "Don`t Stop Me Now," by Queen.
I`m posting this in support of Isla Grist and all those who have the condition, I think the film with Jonny Kennedy helps to show what they`re up against.
Good on Souey.
Isla Grist
"Heartbreaking plight of girl, 7, whose skin is so fragile even a hug can give her `third degree burns` ":
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3451006/Tragic-plight-girl-7-skin-fragile-hug-degree-burns.html
Post Edited (Tue 23 May 17:53)
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Topic Originator: GG Riva
Date: Wed 24 May 06:04
I meant to say in my post further up, but got side tracked, that Souness has my deepest admiration and respect for his undertaking. He doesn`t need the publicity so it`s obviously out of genuine love for that lass and other unfortunate sufferers like her.
I fancy he`ll exceed his target for this very worthwhile cause.
Not your average Sunday League player.
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Topic Originator: alwaysaPar
Date: Wed 24 May 12:31
Quote:
GG Riva, Tue 23 May 06:48
Quote:
DunPar, Tue 23 May 02:47
Fair play to Souness. Despite being a bluenose, I’ll be donating to this one.
Souness could be one arrogant pup, but he was never a proper, paid up bluenose, DunPar. He was offered a lucrative contract to become player/manager of Rangers, so he accepted it. One of his first signings was Mo Johnston - a Catholic who had posed in a Celtic strip just days beforehand. (He had already had a spell at Parkhead before heading to France to play for Nantes.)
Of course, Celtic fans were incandescent, a fact which helped the more extreme elements in the Ibrox fan base to swallow this unpalatable decision and when wee Mo scored the only goal in his first OF match, he became their pin up.
Eta. His fav team was and still is, Liverpool.
Not to detract from the fantastic gesture Souness is doing, but I`m afraid GG, that Mo Johnston was signed for Souness`s 4th season as manager, 3 years after he had taken the job.
Plus it was the first old firm game at Ibrox that season that he scored the only goal of the game, he had already got the abuse at Parkhead earlier in the season in a 1-1 draw.....😁
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