Thirty year old Emma Fogarty, whose parents come from Herbertstown and Kilmallock areas, is the oldest surviving person in Ireland with the condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), or more simply Butterfly Disease. This amazing lady, who is now unfortunately confined to a wheelchair, made the long arduous journey from her Co. Laois home to Dingle on the weekend of 20th, 21st, and 22nd June to help promote the work of the charity organisation DEBRA Ireland, and also to support the sixty hikers who were taking part in the annual fundraising three-day 75km hike, known as the Kerry Challenge. The weekend was also cause for a major celebration, as Emma celebrated her 30th birthday, an age which unfortunately very few people diagnosed with Butterfly Disease ever get to see.
Emma, with her forever smiling face, informed us that when she is not in need of hospital care she helps out in DEBRA Ireland with their ongoing work in research, and also assists the 300 families in Ireland who are affected by Butterfly Disease. Emma, along with west Limerick hikers, Mike Histon, Joe Carrig, Pat Toomey, and Eamon O’Kane, would like to thank all of the people in the Shana-golden, Foynes, Ballyhahill, Askeaton, and Creeves areas of west Limerick who helped make the three day fundraiser such a resounding success.
With the help of business people and the many households they visited, they once again achieved their target fundraising of €10,000. This money will help to ease some family’s suffering so again they say a big thank you to all!