SOUNESS Football is a breeze compared to this but it's nothing to what Isla faces every single day

Scotland legend is ready to get Channel swim done & raisé Elm for 'butterfly skin' schoolgirl

-  RORY CASSIDY

FOOTBALL hero Graeme Souness has smashed the £1million barrier ahead of his attempt to swim the Channel this weekend for his "butterfly girl".

The ex-Scotland star, who turned 70 last month, is due to tackle the 21-mile stretch of water tomorrow with a group of ex-marines to raise money for 14-year-old schoolgirl Isla Grist.

The Rangers and Liverpool legend is raising the money for research into epidermolysis bullosa (EB) - which he calls "the cruellest of cruel diseases".

He was inspired to take on the 16-hour challenge after becoming pals with Isla, from the Black Isle near Inverness. Isla's condition, known as "butterfly skin", causes the skin to tear or blister at the slightest touch causing extreme pain.

Souness choked back tears as he described Isla as "the most unique person I've ever met".

With donations now at £910,000 plus Gift Aid of £128,000 more than £1.2million will go to find a cure for EB.

Speaking to the Daily Record before his swim, Graeme said: "I can't thank the people who have donated enough.

I know how difficult it is. We are in a crisis. Life is tough for everyone. We've been getting donations from people who realise how evil this thing is.

"Hopefully millions of people now know what the condition is and can phone up the charity and offer some help. It's given us a real feeling that we've achieved something. It's really heartwarming.

Former Sky Sports pundit Souness has been aiming to raise £1.1million for the Debra charity, which supports Isla and about 5000 people in the UK who live with the genetic condition.

There is no cure though mild forms may improve with age.

Souness has trained by swimming in the sea near his home on the south coast of England at 5am, three days a week for nine months.