COLIN Farrell has completed a marathon with his close friend Emma Fogarty, hailing her for demonstrating “what courage is all about”.
The Hollywood star ran the Irish Life Dublin Marathon for Ms Fogarty, who is Ireland’s longest survivor with the genetic condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
The actor pushed Emma in her wheelchair across the finishing line on Sunday afternoon at the end of his run to raise money for people with the condition.
Born with no skin on her left foot and right arm, Emma experiences excruciating blisters from the slightest touch – a condition also known as butterfly skin.
The pair were among 22,500 runners in the marathon and Oscar-nominated actor Farrell, 48, battled through the pain barrier to finish the 42km (26-mile) run in a time of 4:06.45.
He said his crowning achievement was having Emma, from Abbeyleix, in Co Laois, join him for the final 4km, as he pushed her wheelchair.
Having recently reached her 40th birthday – a milestone she thought she might never reach – each of the final kilometres they travelled together represented a decade of her life.
She joined him in a wheelchair for the final 4km of the course – with each kilometre representing a decade of her life.
Their Run To 40 campaign to raise funds for Debra, the national charity supporting people living with EB, initially had a €400,000 target but they now aim to achieve €1 million after viewers of the Late Late Show donated €470,000 last week.
The tally now exceeds €694,000.
The star of The Banshees Of Inisherin and The Penguin said after the pair crossed the finish line at Upper Mount Street just before 1pm: “I have known Emma for many years and she epitomises bravery, she is what courage and pure determination are all about.
“That run was nothing compared to the pain she is forced to endure every single day, even though she doesn’t show it.
“It was an honour to see her waiting for me with 4km to go, each of those representing a decade of her life, and to do the final stretch together. I’ll never forget it.”
Ms Fogarty said she was determined to celebrate her 40th birthday in June in dramatic fashion because others with her form of EB rarely live beyond 35.
She said: “This was a dream come true for me and I want to thank Colin, who has been the most supportive, generous and loyal friend I could wish for.
“He has always shown his compassion and empathy for people living with EB and is a true champion in my eyes.
“Running a marathon is never easy but once he committed to it there was no going back, he is a man of his word.”
‘EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL’
Speaking on Debra Ireland’s Instagram page just before Farrell met her, Emma said she was “excited” and “extremely emotional”, adding: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone. I’m here waiting for Colin to meet me at the last 4km. He’s moving fast and doing really well.
“As many of you know, the reason I’ve done this is because I’ve hit the big 4-0 this year, and I wanted to mark it in a huge way. But, it’s you – the public – that’s made it even bigger and more special than ever.
“Thank you all for your amazing support and donations – in every way. We’re hoping to reach €1 million. Please go to Debra.ie to donate.”
“That run was nothing compared to the pain she is forced to endure every single day, even though she doesn’t show it.”
Colin Farrell
Emma lives with the most severe form of EB and revealed earlier this year her parents were told she would not live a week beyond birth.
The genetic condition is caused by a lack of proteins between the skin layers, meaning even the mildest touch can cause devastatingly painful blisters, which must be bandaged, causing more extreme pain.
Some 80 per cent of her body is covered in layers of bandages to prevent wound infection.
MIRACLE MILESTONE
Ms Fogarty said: “Reaching 40 shouldn’t be a miracle, but right now, it is.
“No one expected me to survive for this long – because people with my type of EB almost never do – but I’ve always been encouraged to be a fighter.”
The brave women has also had two battles with cancer.
Funds raised during the Run To 40 campaign will be used to fuel pioneering research into EB in Ireland.
Donations can still be made at debra.ie/runto40 or by calling 01-902 393.
WHAT IS EB?
EB (epidermolysis bullosa) is a group of incredibly painful genetic blistering condition that affects the body’s largest organ; the skin.
People living with EB are missing the essential proteins that bind the skin’s layers together, so any minor friction, movement or trauma causes it to break and blister. It’s debilitating. Excruciating. Relentless. A disease with no known cure.
There are four main forms of EB that vary in severity, but all carry their own life-limiting symptoms, life-long pain and, in many cases, disability. The more severe forms of EB have a life expectancy range of early infancy to 35 years of age.
EB can affect both, the external and internal lining of the skin.
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon was won by Kenyan Moses Kemei with a personal best time of 2:08.47, with Ethiopian Abebaw Desalew finishing second with a time of 2:09.23.
Hiko Tonosa, of Dublin South Dublin AC, also broke the Irish record with a time of 2:09.42 and came third overall, winning the Irish national marathon title.
Asmirach Nega was the first-placed woman with a course record time of 2:24.13.
Ann-Marie McGlynn, of Letterkenny AC, claimed the Irish women’s national title again with a time of 2:34.05.
And Sean Frame of Scotland was the fastest participant in a wheelchair, finishing in 1:45.13.
1,000TH RACE
Meanwhile, 74-year-old Colette O’Hagan, from Dundalk in Co Louth, ran across the line to finish her 1,000th marathon today.
The race began at 8.45am on Sunday morning and the 43rd event started at Leeson Street Lower, winding its way around the streets of the capital before finishing at Mount Street Upper at 5pm.
