Former Liverpool player and manager Graham Souness appeared on Good Morning Britain to raise awareness of epidermolysis bullosa, along with epidermolysis bullosa sufferer Jasmine Ritchie.
Graeme Souness fought back tears as he offered his support to a young girl who suffers from a skin condition and whose days are a “non-stop uphill battle”. The Liverpool legend appeared on TV alongside 13-year-old Jasmine Ritchie, who is living with an illness that Souness believes is “as bad as it gets”.
The 72-year-old Scotsman appeared on Good Morning Britain and spoke about epidermolysis bullosa (EB), having recently completed a Kilimanjaro climb with Jasmine and her mother to raise money for people living with the condition. The disease causes the teenager’s skin to itch and blister, and her skin is so thin that the slightest jolt can be life-altering.
Souness works for a charity called DEBRA and has previously swam the English Channel to raise money. The former Newcastle and Blackburn manager explained to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls why providing support is so important.
“There are a lot of terrible, terrible conditions and diseases in the world, but I believe EB is worse than this,” he said. “Jasmine was born with this disease. Every day of her life is an uphill battle. Every day is Groundhog Day, every day is filled with pain and itching. There is no rest.”
Ms. Souness cut an emotional figure, adding, “Jasmine’s hair was very beautiful today, and she put on make-up and put it in a ponytail before the show, but her mother Anna forgot to tell her that she has a scar on her head.”
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“I was standing next to Anna (Jasmine’s mother) and she started crying. I thought, ‘What happened?’ But Jasmine didn’t complain.
“I came here before with other kids who were suffering from the same disease. I come from a world of people who are winners and don’t let anything set them back.
“But on the scale of courage and being a winner, soccer players are 10 out of 10. These young guys are 10 out of 10.”
This is not the first time Souness has appeared on television to highlight the problems faced by EB patients. The former soccer player enjoys a friendship with Ira Grist, who also suffers from the disease.
“When we appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss her skin condition, which is a big challenge for her every day, she said matter-of-factly that there are other people out there who have issues too. Typical Isla,” Ms Souness previously said. “I always downplayed the cards she was dealt and the difficulty of getting through each day.
“She is 14 years old and has epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a life-threatening skin disease also known as ‘butterfly skin’ that causes blisters and tears on the body. The cream must be applied for hours, and the bandage must be changed 3 to 4 times a week, which is painful.
“I can say this without any doubt: I have never witnessed conditions more brutal than this. I am vice president of the charity Debra, which raises awareness and funds for this condition, and will soon be lobbying the government for help.
“Unfortunately, there is currently no government assistance for children suffering from this disease.
“I also had the pleasure of meeting Isla’s father and mother, Rachel and Andy, at their home in Inverness. Andy and I often speak as fathers of two, and my heart breaks for Andy in his desperation for any way to make life better for his daughter.”
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