Latest news with #TeamEB
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots 'butterfly girl' opens up on daily struggle with painful rare skin condition
EXCLUSIVE: Isla Grist lives with epidermolysis bullosa, which she describes as a "constant battle". Teenager Isla Grist has opened up on the constant struggle she faces living with a rare genetic skin blistering condition. Isla, 16, also thanked her football legend pal Graeme Souness for his help in raising awareness of the painful disease known as butterfly skin. The former Rangers boss recently swam the Channel for epidermolysis bullosa charity DEBRA. Souness and fellow Old Firm hero Scott Brown – also an ambassador for the charity – have now asked people to sign up to Join Team EB and do their own challenge. Isla, from the Black Isle, near Inverness, said: 'Living with EB is a constant battle. It is painful. Inconvenient. It's a horrible thing to live with. I'm itchy and in pain all the time. 'I can't do things normal people do, like walk unaided and hold a cup of tea. I spend a huge amount of time getting my bandages changed and going to hospital appointments. 'I just want to lead a normal free from the incessant itch and pain. It is intolerable.' But the inspirational teenager said that it helps to know that the public want to support her and hopes the challenge campaign spreads awareness so more people understand her condition. She said: 'I think that it's great that people in Scotland want to get involved and spread awareness of EB. 'Graeme and I are both proud to be Scottish and would love the nation to do whatever they can. 'If you are thinking about a challenge, just do it, every little helps. Thank you for being part of the battle against EB. 'It's important for people to talk about it. The more people that know about EB and understand how painful it is, the easier it is for those of us living with EB. 'So many people have been so kind, supportive and generous which makes me very grateful.' Isla helped Graeme through his recent double swim of the English Channel, when he was struggling at the mid-point and a call from her spurred him on to finish the gruelling task. She said: 'It made me feel blessed that I could do that for him, and help get him to the finish line. 'I feel very privileged that he has done these challenges on behalf of me and all of the EB community.' Graeme, 72, said: 'I was seriously flagging in the middle but a call from Isla really gave me the boost (and perspective!) I needed to forge on. 'She was having her gruelling five-hour bandage change but typically for her, she still wanted to call me to spur me on. 'This is why we are doing this – and it's why we are now asking anyone who wants to push themselves for a brilliant, really important cause to Join Team EB.' Former Celtic captain Scott added: 'I don't think that I'll be swimming the Channel but I'm definitely looking at ideas to do a challenge of my own for DEBRA this summer. 'I hope the people of Scotland will get behind us and join Team EB – kids like Isla deserve a shot at a better life with our help.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Isla was also impressed by the team from The Malletsheugh restaurant in Glasgow who jumped out of a plane in DEBRA T-shirts to help launch the campaign last weekend. She said: 'Well done. That must have taken some courage. I couldn't do it! Thank you for supporting DEBRA. And thank you to the Daily Record for helping us.' Isla admitted she is puzzled when people talk about the hardman Graeme was known as in his footballing and management careers. She says she has only known him as her friend who hates to see her in pain. And the brave teenager has a challenge for the legendary midfield enforcer too. 'Graeme, I challenge you to say no to my Paddington Bear stare! 'I have only known him as the Graeme he is today. So to think of the footballer Graeme is weird to me. 'Thank you again to everyone – together we can fight this. 'Scottish people are the best in the world and I truly value your support and solidarity '. If you would like to take on any sort of challenge for DEBRA with the Daily Record – walk, run, take on a swim, add daily steps, walk your dog, or anything at all – then you should visit join-team-eb.
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Butterfly Skin charity DEBRA launches summer campaign asking Scots to sign up for a challenge
A summer campaign is being launched by Butterfly Skin charity DEBRA with the Daily Record. Butterfly Skin charity DEBRA is launching a summer campaign with the Daily Record asking you to sign up for a challenge and Join Team EB – and it's open to everyone. Celebs, businesses, schools and everyday people are all joining in and challenges can be anything you want, from running to doing some extra daily steps, or something crazy. A team from an Indian restaurant in Glasgow are making sure it gets off to a flyer by launching themselves out of a plane tomorrow. DEBRA vice-president Graeme Souness swam the Channel last week as part of a team and other celebs are jumping on board too, such as DEBRA ambassadors Scott Brown and TV sport presenter Emma Dodds. But Emma says it's not about the stars – this is about everyday people helping improve lives while taking on healthy fun challenges. Emma said: 'I think giving people the chance to join Team EB is a really good idea, to increase awareness and find out more about the charity – but it also lets people get involved. 'I love that the challenge doesn't need to be really hardcore – it can be dog walking, doing some extra steps on your watch every day, whatever it is you feel you'd like to challenge yourself to do. 'It gets the message of DEBRA and what we are working to achieve out and helps bring in more people to really be part of it all. 'A few of us have been talking behind the scenes about challenge ideas and there are great ones, from doing an extra few thousand steps to three rounds of golf in a day. Others are doing skydives, running marathons and, of course, Graeme swam the Channel there and back. 'But this whole campaign is about showing it doesn't have to be a huge impossible task – whatever challenge you feel comfortable trying for DEBRA, that's what you do. 'It's more about being part of something and really getting behind the amazing work DEBRA does.' Emma is blown away by the team from Glasgow restaurant The Malletsheugh deciding to jump out of a plane to give the campaign the perfect launch platform. She said: 'I love the skydive idea. It's amazing the guys are doing this for DEBRA, it's so admirable. 'Jumping out of a plane is something not a lot of people would want to do, fair play to them to help us kick this off big-style. 'They have set a high bar for us to all follow, they have set the tone in some style. 'I think it will inspire a lot of people.' The team from The Malletsheugh are thrilled to be the first to sign up to Join Team EB – and their challenge is a special way to get the summer campaign off the ground. Aman Birk 30, Bobby Birk, 29, Humza Qadri, 24, Gurbachan Singh, 42, Rhys Hamilton, 18, Arpan Lama, 25, and Sabi Singh, 30, wanted to do something special to show their appreciation for the incredible support they have had since opening 18 months ago, winning multiple awards and running community events like a silent fireworks display while supporting local charities. When team leader Bobby heard about the summer of challenges go Join Team EB for DEBRA, he jumped at the chance to sign up – even though he's terrified of heights. Bobby said: 'This is pretty out there for me as I've always had a real thing about heights but when we heard about this challenge through friends who help out at DEBRA, it was something we wanted to support and try to help bring attention to the agony EB patients have to live with. 'It puts our own things into perspective – we all have difficulties in life but it really does bring it home how lucky most of us are when you see the constant pain and struggle of EB. 'I knew nothing about DEBRA or EB until I saw Graeme on TV talking about it and it hit home – I spoke to my family and to our team at the restaurant and we felt we should do something to help spread the word. 'A few people said they would love to do a skydive but were scared to take the plunge and it just felt right, so we signed up and we're jumping out of a plane Sunday, May 11. 'I really am scared of heights, so I don't know how I will feel hanging out of the open door, up in the air. If I have to be thrown out, I'll do it – it's nothing compared to the things EB patients face every minute of every day. 'We have put up a fundraising page and everything goes to this appeal, so please help if you can – and why not take on a challenge of your own? 'It's all about spreading the word and helping this brilliant charity.' If you want to Join Team EB, go to Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
