Colin Farrell to participate in Dublin Marathon to raise awareness for friend with rare skin condition
The ‘Run to 40’ campaign was launched by the Irish actor with his longtime friend, Emma Fogarty.
Irish actor Colin Farrell is preparing to participate in the Dublin Marathon to raise awareness and donations for a good cause.
Farrell, at 48 years old, will be running the 26-mile course on Oct. 27 in honor of Emma Fogarty, his friend of 14 years.
Emma Fogarty, who recently celebrated her 40th birthday in June, is Ireland’s oldest survivor of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare genetic condition that causes the skin to blister or tear easily.
Farrell and Fogarty, aiming to support the Dublin-based charity Debra Ireland, are currently fundraising for their campaign “Run to 40.”
“I wanted to celebrate my birthday with [Colin], so I thought what better way than to cross the finish line together,” explained Fogarty, who plans to join Farrell during the last few kilometers of the race.
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“Emma has been living with EB for four decades,” Farrell shared on the show. “So for every decade she has survived with and lived with EB, we will run 1 kilometer. I will be pushing Emma [in her wheelchair] for the last 4 kilometers.”
Fogarty mentioned that although four kilometers may not seem challenging for regular runners, her condition, which has caused her fingers to fuse and made it difficult for her to walk, will make the distance incredibly demanding on her body.
Living With EB
According to Stanford Medicine, there are three main forms of EB, each caused by different genetic mutations. EB simplex (EBS) is the most common and least severe type, while junctional EB (JEB) and dystrophic EB (DEB) are rarer and more severe.
Fogarty was born with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a severe form of DEB. She has wounds similar to third-degree burns covering 80% of her body and must constantly wear bandages that take hours to apply.
In November 2019, Fogarty had to undergo a left leg amputation below the knee after being diagnosed with skin cancer, a common complication of EB.
Speaking on the show, Fogarty mentioned her agony, which is constant and severe.
“It’s called butterfly skin, which means my skin is as delicate as a butterfly’s wings,” she explained. “A simple bump can cause a blister to tear off.”
Debra Ireland reports that individuals with EB typically do not live past 35 years old. Fogarty is the third person with her condition to reach the age of 40.
“It’s 40; you expect to reach 40 when you are young, but not everyone does,” she added. “So it’s phenomenal.”
Raising Funds for a Cure
While there is no cure for epidermolysis bullosa currently, some treatments can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for those affected by the condition.
After their appearance on “The Late Late Show,” the duo surpassed their goal, raising almost €600,000 by Oct. 21.
During his segment on the Irish talk show, Farrell commended Fogarty for her unwavering positivity despite facing significant challenges due to her “unusually severe” condition.
“Like most people, I complain about this and that,” the actor shared. “But what Emma deals with every day is extraordinary.”
“She is one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and her spirit, humor, kindness, and zest for life are remarkable,” he added.
