Colin Farrell not only had an above-average finishing time at the Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 27, but he helped raise more than €785k for the Irish charity Debra in honor of his pal Emma Fogarty.
The Dublin native Hollywood A-lister was among 22,500 athletes who raced through 42km of Dublin City on Sunday, ultimately finishing in an impressive time of 4:06:45.
For the final 4km of the marathon from Nutley Lane, Colin pushed his friend Emma who, at 40 years old, is the longest-surviving Irish woman with agonizing skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB).
The duo's 'Run to 40' campaign initially had a €400,000 target to raise vital funds for Debra, Ireland's national charity supporting people living with the incurable disease.
But the pair now aim to hit €1 million after €470,000 was donated by viewers of RTE's "The Late Late Show" last week.
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As of Monday morning, the tally continues to steadily grow, exceeding €785k after further donations flooded into a phoneline and online at Debra.ie/runto40.
The "Banshees of Inisherin" and "The Penguin" star signed up for the run earlier this year to celebrate the Abbeyleix, Co Laois woman’s 40th birthday – a milestone she was never expected to reach.
Debra shared footage of Colin at the starting line on Sunday as Amhrán na bhFiann, the Irish national anthem, played.
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After the pair triumphantly crossed the Dublin Marathon finish line at Upper Mount Street on Sunday, Colin said: “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."
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Emma said she was determined to celebrate her 40th birthday in June in dramatic fashion – because those with her form of EB rarely live beyond 35.
“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,” she said.
“He has always shown his compassion and empathy for people living with EB and is 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.”
October 27, 2024: Colin Farrell and Emma Fogarty at the finish line of the Dublin Marathon. (RollingNews.ie)
Emma lives with the most severe form of EB and revealed earlier this year how 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.
A total of 80% of Emma's body is covered in layers of bandages, needed to prevent wound infection.
“The doctors said it would be better for me not to make it, because my life would be so hard,” she said.
“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.
“Reaching 40 shouldn’t be a miracle, but right now, it is.”
She also survived two battles with cancer.
The duo spoke with RTÉ News after Sunday's race, with Colin praising Emma for living "not as a victim of EB."
Funds raised during Emma and Colin's Run to 40 campaign will be used to fuel pioneering research that could transform the future for everyone with EB in Ireland.
There is still time to make a donation at debra.ie/runto40 or call 01-902 3938.
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