Colin Farrell ran the last leg of the Dublin Marathon pushing his friend in a wheelchair

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Here’s some feel-good news for your day. Over the weekend, Colin Farrell ran in the Dublin Marathon. He completed it in 4:06:46, which sounds pretty impressive to me, a person who has never run a marathon before (but has actually always wanted to). At the end of the race, Colin did something really special. For the final 2.5 miles (4 km), he pushed his friend’s wheelchair so she could cross the finish line with him. His friend, Emma Fogarty, suffers from a rare skin condition. Colin was racing in order to help fundraise for an Irish charity called DEBRA, which provides support to people who have epidermolysis bullosa, the genetic condition that Emma has.

The 48-year-old star ran the final 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of the 26-mile race while pushing his friend Emma Fogarty, who lives with a rare skin condition, across the finishing line.

Farrell, who was back home in Ireland for the marathon, aimed to raise funds for DEBRA, an Irish charity supporting people who, like Fogarty, have the incurable genetic condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) – also known as butterfly skin.

Fogarty is Ireland’s oldest surviving person with the condition, according to the PA Media news agency, which said she was born with no skin on her left foot and right arm and can develop very painful blisters from even the slightest touch.

She turned 40 in June – a milestone she thought she might not reach, having been born with the most severe form of the condition – which is why she and Farrell pledged to take part together, PA reported.

Crowds roared their support as the Oscar-nominated actor, who is currently starring in the HBO miniseries “The Penguin,” met up with his friend in the late stage of the run on Sunday afternoon. (HBO, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.)

Farrell told PA: “I have known Emma for many years and she epitomises bravery, she is what courage and pure determination are all about.”

The pair crossed the finish line just before 1 p.m. local time, with Farrell having completed the course in 4:06.45, according to PA.

“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.”

Also speaking to PA, Fogarty said: “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. Running a marathon is never easy but once he committed to it there was no going back, he is a man of his word.”

People living with EB do not have the essential proteins that bind the skin’s layers together, which means that even the most minor amount of friction or movement can cause the skin to break, tear or blister.

Fogarty, who is an ambassador for DEBRA, has layers of bandages over 80% of her body to prevent wound infection. She and Farrell originally set out to raise €400,000 ($430,000) for the charity but now aim to hit the million-euro mark – and they are more than three-quarters of the way there, its website shows.

Earlier this year, Farrell launched the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support for families who have adult children living with intellectual disabilities. His own adult son, James, was born with Angelman Syndrome, a rare neurogenetic disorder.

[From CNN]

The significance of Colin pushing Emma four kilometers, each one to represent each decade of her life is so sweet and powerful! You can watch the video of the two of them crossing the finish line below. Emma is an incredible, tough woman, and I thank Colin for introducing us to her and her story. It’s really inspirational and crazy how much money they’ve been able to raise for DEBRA, too. It would be cool and well-received if they did a fundraiser event somewhere, maybe combining it with Colin’s organization. If you’d like to donate to DEBRA as a part of their campaign, you can do so through this link. Imagine if everyone with a platform like he has used it for good like this. That Colin Farrell really did turn out to be such a good egg.

Also – side note – anyone watching The Penguin? I went in reluctantly because it was a Mr. Rosie pick (I picked English Teacher, which I cannot recommend enough), and was pleasantly surprised. It’s really good and Colin, along with Cristin Milioti, give spectacular performances.

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Photos credit: Jennifer Graylock-Graylock.com / Avalon, Getty and via Twitter

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25 Responses to “Colin Farrell ran the last leg of the Dublin Marathon pushing his friend in a wheelchair”

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  1. Smile says:

    Good man and good cause.

  2. Jais says:

    Colin Farrel 🔥 and sweet. Love seeing his friend cross the finish line with him.

  3. Booboochile says:

    This is just sooo wonderful. I’m tearing up. What a kind gorgeous human being.

  4. Kristen from MA says:

    I watched a documentary on YouTube about a young man in England who had a severe form of EB. It is a brutal disease. Good on Colin, who continues to impress me.

    • Diana says:

      If it is the same one I’ve seen it’s a UK Channel 4 documentary called ‘the boy whose skin fell off’ and it is heart-breaking.

  5. He really has become a very good man and good for him.

  6. Nanea says:

    What a great idea for Colin to use his celebrity status to shine a light on this painful condition and encourage people to donate.

    There are so many rare genetic disorders that could use more publicity and more funding for research.

  7. BW says:

    Colin’s really gone from bad boy to good man. I’m tearing up.

    • Eleonor says:

      I was about to write the same thing.
      And also his career has become more interesting!
      Good for him.

  8. ML says:

    This was heartwarming to read! Good on Colin and Emma.

  9. Sue says:

    Guh, give this man the award for Loveliest Man Alive. I love when he’s in the news because it’s usually feel-good stuff like this.

  10. Tarte au Citron says:

    When he returns to Dublin for Christmas, he always visits the children’s hospital. Doing this for over 10 years, I think. 🙂

  11. Kittenmom says:

    I remember Colin’s bad boy phase way back. Becoming a special needs dad really sent his life in a new and amazing direction. What a great guy.

  12. Totoro says:

    Colin F and Angelina Jolie are the two wild childs in their youth with an untamed streak, who grew up, took on their life sessions and turned into beautiful souls and kind hearted human beings. They don’t have big egos although they have very right to have one. They both keep their head down and give back in their own way and are devoted parents who have sacrificed career for family. I think they had a fling in their younger years. They would make such a cool duo again now. I would so be here for that.

  13. JD says:

    Oh my, I had a soft spot for this man since Tigerland, and he ages like a fine wine, inside and out.
    More men should aspire to be like him, rather than those podcast bros they listen to.

  14. Daisychain says:

    Had to blot my face so I don’t go into work with smeary makeup. Also, I didn’t know about Colin’s son. A friend’s son also has Angelman’s Syndrome, and they take wonderful care of him, but it’s not easy.

  15. Kirsten says:

    This is a really lovely thing and generous thing for the both of them to do — congrats to them for the race and the money they raised!

  16. kiks says:

    My god, I am SO in love with this chapter of Colin Farrell’s life. Have been very fond of him since “In Bruges” (he’s so fucking funny in that movie!) but he is on a whole other level now. What a beautiful man, truly an inspiration and proof of how people much can change for the better. I didn’t know he was in The Penguin and definitely need to watch it now.

    Also adding him to my List. Those arms. Hiiiiii.

  17. Eden75 says:

    Just when I thought I couldn’t like the guy more. Damnnnn……

    I loved him as a bad boy, I love him as a good man. *Sigh*

  18. Grant says:

    He was one of my gay sexual awakenings twenty years ago and I would still climb him like a tree.

  19. East Villager says:

    You can donate to Emma’s cause on debra.ie (obviously I don’t work for them). There is no end to my adoration of this man.