SOUNESS DELIGHT AT SWIM DONATIONS Thank you all

Legend hails charity drug trial to aid brave Isla

- DAVID MEIKLE

FOOTBALL legend Graeme Souness has thanked everyone who donated as he swam the Channel to raise funds for a girl with a rare skin disorder.

The former Liverpool, Rangers and Scotland star also hailed a clinical trial which could help those with the condition.

Isla Grist, 14, captured the 70-year-old's heart after he learned about her battle with epidermolysis bullosa, also known as butterfly skin or EB simplex.

Souness raised £4.5million as part of a team, which included Isla's dad Andy, who completed a 21-mile swim across the English Channel.

He is now vowing to raise a further £5million to fund drug research through charity DEBRA.

Souness said: "Thanks to the donations that you have made as part of the swim challenge, DEBRA has been able to fund its first drug repurposing clinical trial.