Businessman wades across Liffey, Thames and Humber to raise £200,000 for EB charity
Following months of intensive training, a charity fundraiser has boldly waded where nobody has waded before and successfully completed one of the most daring and historic events ever witnessed in the UK – the Three Rivers Challenge.
Using all his strength and stamina, 44 year-old Graham Boanas crossed three major tidal rivers - the Liffey, Thames and Humber – unaided, on foot and all in one day. The Hull businessman hopes his latest venture will raise £200,000 for DebRA, the national charity which supports UK families affected by the skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
At 6ft 9ins tall, Graham needed all his height to help him undertake this amazing feat, which started at the River Liffey in Dublin at 8am. Graham was then transported via hi-speed helicopter to the banks of the Thames in London for the second leg – which started at 12.30pm.
Following his successful crossing of the Thames, Graham was transported to the Humber for the final and toughest leg of the challenge where he completed the crossing underwater with the aid of a diving mask, breathing tube and was guided by a safety rope.
Graham explains: “The last leg was really tough going because it was pitch black underwater and the Humber is 10 metres deep. The current was extremely strong and at points I didn’t feel I could go on. But when I thought about the families affected by EB and the pain they suffer, that spurred me on to endure another half hour of pain.”
Graham is no stranger to undertaking arduous fundraising challenges for DebRA – in 2005, he was the first person ever to cross the Humber estuary on foot at low tide. In 2006, Graham was also the first person to cross both the Humber underwater and the Mersey estuary on foot at low tide within one week which, together with his previous challenge, raised more than £100,000 for DebRA. He hopes his latest challenge will increase that fundraising figure to in excess £200,000.
Graham first came into contact with DebRA while training at his local gym where he watched GMTV coverage on Adana Forsyth, who has EB. He was so moved by her story, he decided there and then to take action and raise funds for DebRA.
EB is a rare genetic condition which causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest friction, or even spontaneously. There are currently at least 5,000 people living with this devastating condition in the UK. In its mildest form, blistering is 
confined to the hands and feet. In more severe cases, the whole body is affected and wounds heal very slowly, giving rise to scarring, physical deformity and significant disability. Blistering can also affect inner body linings, such as the mouth and oesophagus and, in its most advanced form, EB can be fatal in infancy.
When asked about his feat, Graham said: “By undertaking the Three Rivers Challenge, I wanted to raise the public’s awareness of EB and raise as much money as possible to help DebRA continue its invaluable support to people living with this devastating skin condition.
“This was my retirement challenge and I crossed the Liffey in memory of my mum, Elizabeth Boanas, who was from Dublin and died in 2004. Hopefully, someone else will be inspired enough to pick up the baton and help make a difference.”
Amanda McLean, Director of Fundraising & Communications at DebRA, said: “We’re so grateful to Graham for his tremendous fundraising achievements. DebRA relies on the generosity of the public to carry out its vital work, funding research, and in providing specialist support services such as travelling nurses, clinics, equipment and respite holiday accommodation for families under severe pressure.”
A dedicated fundraising page for Graham’s Three Rivers Challenge is available at www.justgiving.com/grahamboanas and more information about the Three Rivers Challenge, is available at www.graham.boanas.co.uk.
For more information about DebRA, please visit www.debra.org.uk.
