Colin Farrell has raised over $800,000 by running the Dublin Marathon for Debra, an Irish charity supporting people who have the incurable genetic condition epidermolysis bullosa, commonly known as “butterfly skin.”
EB is a painful condition caused by a deficiency of crucial proteins between skin layers, making the skin so fragile that even light contact can lead to blisters and severe wounds requiring constant bandaging.
For the final 2.5 miles of the 26-mile race on Sunday, The Hollywood star pushed his friend, Emma Fogarty, in a wheelchair. Fogarty is Ireland’s oldest living person with the illness, and she was born with no skin on her left foot and right arm. She has bandages covering 80 percent of her body to prevent wound infection.
The two friends decided to take on this challenge after Fogarty celebrated her 40th birthday in June—a milestone she once thought impossible. Their friendship formed after meeting at a charity event more than 15 years ago.
Farrell and Fogarty’s campaign, “Run To 40,” initially aimed to raise $431,232 (€400,000) for Debra. After an overwhelming response from viewers of The Late Late Show, who contributed an additional $506,699 (€470,000), they raised their goal to $1,078,080 (€1 million). At the time of writing, they had raised $872,528 (€807,373), according to the donation website, debra.ie.
Colin Farrell attends the Photo Call for Apple TV+’s “Sugar” at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on March 12, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. He has helped raise funds for an Irish charity by running Dublin Marathon.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Farrell for comment on Tuesday.
“I have known Emma for many years and she epitomizes bravery, she is what courage and pure determination are all about,” Farrell, who is currently starring in the miniseries The Penguin, told the Press Association.
“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 4 km to go, each of those representing a decade of her life, and to do the final stretch together. I’ll never forget it.”
Fogarty told the publication: “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.
“He has always shown his compassion and empathy for people living with EB and is a true champion in my eyes.”
This isn’t the only cause that’s close to the actor’s heart, as he previously grew emotional while opening up about his son’s rare neurogenetic disorder. Farrell shares 21-year-old James with model Kim Bordenave.
When he was approximately two and a half years old, James was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome, a complex neurological condition characterized by developmental delays, lack of speech, seizures and impaired balance.
During an interview with People in August, Farrell explained that his son turning 21 in September meant he would age out of many of the support systems provided for families with kids who have special needs. To provide support for adult children like his son who have intellectual disabilities, Farrell has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation. He hopes to help other families through advocacy, education and innovative programs.
“It’s early days, like this is the first time I’ve spoken about it and obviously the only reason I’m speaking is, I can’t ask James if he wants to do this,” he said.
“I have to make a call based on knowing James’s spirit and what kind of young man he is and the goodness that he has in his heart.”
