Actor Finishes Marathon While Pushing Friend in Wheelchair
By Movieguide® Contributor
Irish actor Colin Farrell recently finished the Dublin Marathon in 4:06:45, and he ran the last 2.5 miles while pushing his friend in a wheelchair.
“Farrell (48) crossed the finish line in just over four hours, pushing his friend Emma Fogarty (40), who suffers from a rare skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB), in a wheelchair for the last 2.5 miles of the race,” the Irish Times reported.
After the race, the actor told The Times, “I have known Emma for many years, and she epitomizes 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 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.”
Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of rare diseases that cause the skin to be fragile and to blister easily,” The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases describes. “Tears, sores, and blisters in the skin happen when something rubs or bumps the skin. They can appear anywhere on the body.”
Together, Farrell and Fogarty raised over “$690,000 for the charity Debra Ireland, which supports those like Fogarty living with a rare skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa,” Men’s Health reported.
This isn’t the only health activism Farrell is involved with.
He also began his own charity, the Colin Farrell Foundation, in honor of his son who has Angelman Syndrome, “a complex genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system.”
“The Colin Farrell Foundation is committed to transforming the lives of individuals and families living with intellectual disability through education, awareness, advocacy, and innovative programs,” the website description reads.
“I want the world to be kind to James. I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect,” the actor said.
READ MORE: HOW PARENTHOOD TRANSFORMED THIS HOLLYWOOD BAD BOY
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