Hollywood actor Colin Farrell is set to run this October's Dublin Marathon with a close friend to mark her miracle 40th birthday and to support the charity Debra Ireland.
Emma Fogarty from Abbeyleix in Co Laois is Ireland’s longest-surviving person battling the most severe type of agonising skin condition, epidermolysis bullosa (EB) also known as Butterfly Skin.
The Laois woman’s parents were told she would not live a week beyond birth but she reached her 40th milestone last month, surviving cancer twice in the interim.
"I was really proud and grateful when he said he would run the marathon. It was amazing.
I mean, for Colin Farrell to run the marathon for Debra Ireland and have me included is something very special and it will be a very special moment for me," said Ms Fogarty.
"He’s going to run 44km and that’s his challenge, but I’ll be doing the last four kilometres with him.
"He’s going to push me and each kilometre we do together represents a decade of the life I’ve lived and survived with EB.
"I think its going to be more emotional than I’m expecting but I can’t wait. It’s going to be great with him pushing me over that finish line."
Farrell, who is to star in next year’s A Big Bold Beautiful Journey opposite Barbie star Margot Robbie and is also filming Netflix thriller The Ballad of a Small Player, is embarking on 'Emma’s Run to 40’ by running the marathon.
"Emma Fogarty is not only the strongest person I’ve ever met and a true warrior, I’m lucky enough to call her a friend," said The Banshees of Inisherin star.
"For years now, I’ve been fortunate enough to bear witness not only to her courage and her vulnerability, but her humour, her stubbornness and her great, great heart too.
"The fact that I’m getting to run the Irish Life Dublin Marathon with my friend to celebrate her 40th birthday is something I’m so excited about. She's already won the whole day!"
The pals hope that with the public’s help, the challenge will raise €400,000 for Debra and the funds raised during 'Emma's Run to 40' on 27 October will be used to fuel pioneering research which could transform the future for everyone with EB in Ireland.
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