Colin Farrell crossed the finishing line of the Dublin marathon while pushing his friend in a wheelchair

Colin said in a statement after completing the run: "I have known Emma for many years and she epitomises 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 honour to see her waiting for me with four kilometres to go, each of those representing a decade of her life, and to do the final stretch together. I'll never forget it."

The actor has so far raised more than €700,000 for the charity Debra - which supports those living with EB - and completed the race in just over four hours.

Previously, Colin said his son gave him a "desire to live" amid his sobriety battle.

The former hard-living actor, 48, had his boy James Padraig Farrell, 21, with US model Kim Bordenave, 52, in 2003 - and four years later he announced the youngster had Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterised by intellectual and developmental delay, lack of speech, and an excitable demeanour.

Colin told the Daily Mail about how a desire to care for James was the "fuel" behind his fight to give up and abstain from drugs and alcohol: "James was two when I got sober.

"Part of the fuel that I used to get off alcohol and drugs and all that stuff was knowing he had health issues.

"All children need their parents - or a parent or grandparent or somebody - to care for them.

"One of the things James taught me was to access within myself a desire to live, even if it was initially more about me thinking I wanted to live to be around for him."