Colin Farrell took to the streets of the city to complete the Dublin Marathon – all in the name of his friendship with Emma Fogarty, Ireland’s longest surviving person with a rare genetic skin disease.
Farrell, 48, was one of 20,000 runners to compete, but ran as part of ‘Team Emma’, with the actor pushing his wheelchair for the final four kilometers of the race.
Each kilometer represented a decade of Fogarty’s life with epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
“Extraordinary, extraordinary,” Farrell described the race to RTÉ News.
Fogarty was diagnosed with EB at birth. More commonly known as “butterfly skin,” this condition affects one in 50,000 people, according to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
The genetic mutation prevents the skin from forming properly and makes it extremely fragile, leading to injuries and infections.
“The Penguin” star and Fogarty have been friends for more than 15 years after meeting at a charity event, and as part of his 40th birthday celebration, Farrell agreed to run the marathon and push Fogarty in his wheelchair for the final leg of the race. .
“As soon as you turn a corner, there are hundreds, if not a few thousand people. The support was amazing because it gave you a little boost, and actually all the guards were saying too, you were going a little faster than you should have.
Farrell insisted the race only happened because of Fogarty’s strength.
“It all started with how you found a way to live with EB and not live like a victim of EB,” he said.
“As someone who struggles and feels pain because of it, but not as a victim.
“Even if you suffer from it, you have a full life that involves more pain than a human being should experience.”
Before Farrell picked up Fogarty, she sent a “huge thank you” to fans on Instagram for all their well-wishes.
“I’m waiting here for Colin to join me in the last 4 kilometers. He is going fast and doing very well,” she said.
“I am so excited and extremely emotional. As many of you know, the reason I did this is because I hit the big 4-0 this year, and I wanted to mark it in a big way. But it was you – the audience – who made this show bigger and more special than ever.
She added: “Thank you everyone for your incredible support and donations – in every way. We hope to reach 1 million euros. Please visit Debra.ie to donate.
Farrell and Fogarty raised more than $700,000 for charity during the Dublin Marathon.
