Colin Farrell Finishes Dublin Marathon While Pushing Friend With Rare Skin Condition in Wheelchair

Colin Farrell with his close friend, Emma Fogarty, running the Dublin Marathon Damien Storan/PA

Golden Globe-winning actor Colin Farrell added to his collection of awards over the weekend after completing the Irish Life Dublin Marathon with his longtime friend Emma Fogarty.

Farrell, 48, was among the more than 20,000 participants who took on the 26.2-mile course on Sunday, finishing the marathon in just over four hours.

The Irish actor ran the last 2.5 miles of the race while pushing Fogarty in a wheelchair, successfully crossing the finish line alongside his friend of almost 15 years.

Fogarty, who recently turned 40 in June, is Ireland’s oldest survivor of epidermolysis bullosa (EB)—a rare genetic medical condition that causes the skin to tear or blister easily.

“I have known Emma for many years and she epitomises bravery,” Farrell said in a statement after the race, per The Irish Times. “She is what courage and pure determination are all about.”

Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1, Farrell said he heard bystanders calling out Fogarty’s name as they raced to the finish line.

“Everyone’s well aware [of Emma] now as she’s such a vocal advocate for those who are living with EB,” he said, describing Fogarty as having a “warrior heart and spirit.”

Fogarty said the end of the marathon was especially “spectacular.”

“The support we got from the crowd and everything was amazing,” she said. “It was amazing.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 500,000 people around the world are affected by EB. In Ireland, roughly one in every 18,000 children is born with the painful disease each year.

There are three main forms of EB, each caused by different genetic mutations, per Standford Medicine. EB simplex (EBS) is the most prevalent and least severe form of epidermolysis bullosa, whereas junctional EB (JEB) and dystrophic EB (DEB) are less common and exhibit more severe symptoms.

Fogarty was born with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, one of the most severe types of EB. As a result of her debilitating condition, she must constantly wear bandages to cover her wounds, which resemble third-degree burns and are present on 80 percent of her body.

“That run was nothing compared to the pain [Emma] is forced to endure every single day, even though she doesn’t show it,” Farrell said, per The Irish Times.

“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.”

‘Run to 40’

According to Debra Ireland, an organization dedicated to advancing research into effective treatments for epidermolysis bullosa, there is currently no cure for EB.

People living with EB generally don’t survive beyond the age of 35. Fogarty is only the third person living with her condition to make it to the age of 40.

Prior to meeting Farrell on the Dublin Marathon course, Fogarty took to Instagram to share that she was “extremely emotional” about achieving such an important milestone.

“The reason I’ve done this is because I’ve hit the big 4-0 this year, and I wanted to mark it in such a huge way,” she said in a video posted on Oct. 27. “But it’s you, the public, that’s made it even bigger and more special than ever, so thank you all for your amazing support.”

Farrell and Fogarty, who serves as a patient ambassador for Debra Ireland, launched their fundraising challenge, “Run to 40,” in conjunction with the marathon. The campaign aims to raise awareness for EB and garner donations for the Dublin-based charity.

As of noon on Oct. 28, the duo has raised nearly 800,000 euro ($865,000) of their 1 million euro (almost $1.1 million) goal.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1 on Monday, Jimmy Fearon, Debra Ireland’s chief executive officer, said Farrell and Fogarty were “flabbergasted by the level of support” they had received during the race.

Fearon indicated that the donations raised through the “Run to 40” campaign would be used to support Debra Ireland’s current efforts. These include providing grants for nursing support and offering bereavement services to assist families mourning the loss of those who have succumbed to the disease.

“We have so many people to thank for this support,” Fearon said.

“It just shows the generosity and the kindness and the love that’s out there from people to facilitate something magical—and it was magical, it was a really special day, and Emma will never, ever forget this day,” he continued.

“She is high as a kite, and her family are high, and everybody living with EB in Ireland and around the world [is] celebrating this event. Magic still exists.”