The longest-surviving patient in Ireland with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), commonly referred to as butterfly skin, is Emma Fogarty from Abbeyleix in County Laois.

The Laois woman's parents were informed that she wouldn't live for a week after birth, but this month she turned forty and beat cancer twice in the process.

"When he said he would run the marathon, I felt really appreciative and pleased. It was incredible.

It's going to be a pretty significant occasion for me, I mean, for Colin Farrell to run the marathon for Debra Ireland and have me included," Ms. Fogarty remarked.

"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."

In addition to filming the Netflix movie The Ballad of a Small Player and starring with Barbie star Margot Robbie in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey next year, Farrell is completing the marathon as part of "Emma's Run to 40."

The Banshees of Inisherin actress commented, "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."

"I've had the good fortune to observe her bravery, fragility, humour, tenacity, and enormous heart for a number of years.

"I am really thrilled to be running the Irish Life Dublin Marathon alongside my buddy in honour of her 40th birthday. The entire day is already in her favour!"

The friends are hoping that with the public's support, the challenge will earn €400,000 for Debra. The money raised during 'Emma's Run to 40' on 27 October will go towards funding innovative research that has the potential to significantly improve the lives of all Irish people with EB.