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Colin Farrell shows his caring side

Flies to England for fundraiser for woman with same disease as his son

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, September 20, 2010, 7:30 AM

Updated Monday, September 20, 2010, 7:46 AM

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Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell paid a surprise visit to a nightclub in Stourbridge near Birmingham to attend a fundraiser for Jane Whitehouse, who suffers from the same rare genetic disease as his seven-year-old son James Padraig.

Whitehouse, a 40-year-old woman from Kidderminster, has Angelman Syndrome, and is in need of a stairlift. Her brother Mark Brewer organized the fundraiser.

The 34-year-old actor traveled to the event after he heard about the woman’s plight from a friend of ex-boxer Joe Egan, who also attended the event.

“Colin was brilliant,” said Brewer. “He couldn’t do enough, and spent a lot of time with Jane and everyone who attended.

“Jane, who was 40 this year, has Angelman Syndrome and needs a stairlift. I also want to get her room padded because unfortunately she can damage herself without knowing.

“Joe Egan is a close family friend and he said he wanted to organize something to raise awareness and get together enough funds to buy my sister a new stairlift.”

Farrell’s son James was also born with the condition. The actor has revealed how his child suffered from developmental delay, sleep disturbance, seizures, speech impediment, hand flapping movements, and frequent laughter and smiling.

“It was good of Colin to come for the evening,” said ex-heavyweight boxer Egan.

“He was a thorough gentleman and he was very willing to attend.”

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