It was a deeply emotional morning on Good Morning Britain as former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness struggled to hold back tears while sitting next to 13-year-old Jasmine Ritchie, a young girl battling one of the most painful conditions imaginable — Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
Appearing alongside hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, Souness spoke with heartfelt emotion about the realities faced by children like Jasmine, who live each day with fragile skin that blisters and tears at the slightest touch.
The football legend’s voice wavered as he described EB as “as bad as it gets,” a condition he’s devoted himself to fighting through his charity, DEBRA.
A Mother’s Courage and a Daughter’s Strength
Beside Jasmine sat her mother, Anna, who recently completed a remarkable trek up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money and awareness for families coping with the disease.
The emotional bond between mother and daughter was clear to everyone in the studio, but so was the pain of their daily reality.
Souness shared a tender moment from behind the scenes that captured the heartbreak of the condition.
“Her hair looks beautiful today,” he said softly, recalling how the makeup team unknowingly brushed against Jasmine’s wounds while styling her hair.
“Her mum burst into tears. I thought, what’s happened? But Jasmine didn’t complain — not once.”
A Football Legend Humbled by Real Courage
The 72-year-old former midfielder, known for his fierce competitiveness on the pitch, admitted that nothing in his sporting career compares to the bravery he’s witnessed in children living with EB.
“I come from a world of winners and people who never back off anything,” he said.
“But on a scale of courage and being a winner, footballers are a one out of ten.
These young people are a ten out of ten.”
Souness’s words were met with silence in the studio — a moment that underscored just how devastating the condition is.
Life with “Butterfly Skin”
Epidermolysis Bullosa, often called “butterfly skin”, makes even the simplest daily actions — walking, dressing, eating, or showering — agonising.
The skin is so delicate that it can tear from the lightest friction, leaving sufferers in constant pain and covered in wounds.
Every day is a test of endurance. For Jasmine and others like her, even the comfort of sleep can be interrupted by pain.
As Souness described it, “Every day is Groundhog Day.
Every day is filled with pain and itches. There’s no respite from it.”
Continuing the Fight — Inspired by Young Heroes
This is not the first time Souness has used his public platform to speak about EB.
Two years ago, he appeared on the same program to support Isla Grist, another young Scottish girl living with the disease.
Writing later in Daily Mail Sport, he called EB “the cruellest condition I’ve ever seen.”
He recounted visiting Isla and her family at their home in Inverness and being struck by her optimism despite immense suffering.
“She said in a matter-of-fact way that there were other people with challenges too,” he recalled. “Typical Isla — always making light of what she’s been dealt.”
Fighting for Awareness and Government Support
Souness has become one of the most dedicated advocates for EB patients, serving as Vice-President of DEBRA, the UK charity funding research and support for families.
He has repeatedly urged the government to offer more help for children living with the condition, noting with sadness that “we currently have no Government help for the children who are suffering.”
The former Rangers and Liverpool star has backed his words with action — raising millions of pounds through his own fundraising efforts.
Swimming the Channel for a Cause
To fund vital research and care, Souness has taken on a series of remarkable physical challenges.
Most notably, he’s completed two gruelling 21-mile swims across the English Channel, braving freezing waters and exhaustion to bring attention to the cause.
His first crossing in 2023 alone raised more than £1.5 million, a testament to both his determination and the public’s growing awareness of EB through his advocacy.
A Message of Hope Amid Pain
For Souness, meeting children like Jasmine and Isla has been life-changing.
He sees them as the true heroes — young people whose daily battles redefine what courage means.
“They never complain,” he said quietly. “They just get on with it.
I’ve been around footballers all my life, but these kids show me what real strength looks like.”
Through his tears on national television, Souness reminded Britain that even in the face of unbearable pain, love, courage, and compassion can inspire extraordinary change.