Colin Farrell runs Dublin Marathon while pushing friend in wheelchair
Colin Farrell completed great feats at the 2024 Dublin Marathon. He not only raised more than $850,000 (P49 million) for the charity Debra Ireland, he finished the race pushing a friend in a wheelchair.
The Penguin actor crossed the finish line in over four hours. With the final 4 kilometers, he helped out his friend Emma Fogarty, who has a rare genetic skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB) or "butterfly skin."
EB causes fragile, blistering skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. The PA Media news agency said that Emma was born with no skin on her left foot and right arm and is the oldest living person in Ireland with the condition.
As she reached the age of 40, Emma wanted to celebrate the milestone with Colin to raise funds for Debra Ireland, which funds research and provides critical services for those living with EB.
"I have known Emma for many years and she epitomizes bravery, she is what courage and pure determination are all about," The Banshees of Inisherin star said in a statement, as per The Irish Times.
"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 honor 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," he said.
Meanwhile, Emma told PA that running with Colin and finishing the Dublin Marathon was a "dream come true."
"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," she said.
Earlier in the year, the actor launched the Colin Farrell Foundation in honor of his son with Angelman Syndrome, a condition that causes related development, issues with speech and balance, mental disability, and seizures, as per the Mayo Clinic.