‘This is my chance to give back to a charity that has supported me through the biggest challenges of my life’

For most runners the Dublin Marathon is a test of endurance but this year for Dunshaughlin native, Evan Scully, it will be a celebration of his little son, Roscoe.

Roscoe (2), was born after fertility treatment made possible with the help of cystic fibrosis Ireland and for Evan, who lives with cystic fibrosis, his birth is nothing short of a miracle.

When Evan was born, doctors warned his parents he would be unlikely to see his tenth birthday and now the 40 year old is thriving, enjoying life with his wife Yasmina, son Roscoe and pursuing a career as a videographer.

This year, running the Dublin Marathon represents something much deeper than endurance tests and personal bests for Evan, who grew up in Dunshaughlin, and now lives in Navan. “It is about gratitude, resilience, family and community, and is a chance to give back to a charity that has supported me through the biggest challenges of my life.”

Evan is calling for the public to support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI), a charity that provides vital services, advocacy and hope for individuals and families, such as his own, affected by the condition.

Born with cystic fibrosis (CF), doctors warned Evan's parents that he would be unlikely to see his tenth birthday. He grew up with uncertainty about his future, what it would look like and what he might never be able to achieve.

Evan survived the odds to become an endurance athlete and has an impressive collection of medals. As a therapist and strength and conditioning coach he worked with 38 Olympic medalists and over 200 Olympians. After making a significant career change, he now works as a wedding videographer. He is not only living well beyond those early predictions but is continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible when a person has CF.

“When I was a child, my parents worked relentlessly to keep me alive,’ he explains. “Sessions of daily physiotherapy, clapping my back six times a day for a half an hour at a time and turning me upside down to clear the mucus. They called it 'tickly time' and always made it fun. Today, running does this work for me and without it, my lungs start to fill up with mucus.”

Evan also benefits from the highly effective modulator treatments but despite increased lung function, salt regulation and myriad other benefits associated with the medication, significant, and at times hidden, challenges remain.

“Living with CF brings many challenges and one of those challenges is fertility. In our case, it was fertility given my wife carries the CF gene and I have CF. In 2020, we were told we might not be able to have a baby – something no couple should ever hear.” Evan continues. “Today I am a father to two-year-old Roscoe. Through CFI and their fertility grant, we got help when we most needed that and thanks to that, we have our little boy. So, this year running Dublin City Marathon isn't about chasing times, it is not about me, it is to give back to a charity that has given us massive support.”

Through his fundraising and awareness campaign, Evan hopes to shine a light on these less-discussed aspects of CF, such as fertility, helping others with CF feel less alone while encouraging greater understanding of the condition beyond its impact on the lungs.

“Cystic Fibrosis influences every stage of your life. There are challenges people can see, but there are many others that happen behind closed doors. If sharing my story helps even one person feel understood, supported or hopeful, then it's worth it.”

As he takes to the streets for the Dublin Marathon, Evan's message is a simple but powerful one: CF is more than just the lungs and this event is more than just a marathon. It is a chance to support CFI to help ensure that individuals and families affected by CF continue to receive the support, advocacy, information and community they need throughout their lives.

Evan is one of 43 athletes from all over Ireland running the Dublin marathon for CFI. CEO of CFI, Sarah Tecklenborg says;

“These amazing athletes and their stories remind us that CF is about so much more than a medical condition. Behind everyone running for CFI is a story of CF and behind every diagnosis is a person with hopes, ambitions and dreams for the future.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone supporting Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and wish all those taking on the Dublin Marathon every success. Every donation helps us continue to provide vital services and supports to people living with CF today, while also investing in the research that will improve outcomes for future generations. Together, we can support people with CF in Ireland until the day a cure is found.”

Support Evan and CFI here by scanning the code.