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StepTember StepTember - Trisha Lewis (far left) led the StepTember walking challenge for DEBRA Ireland. Pictured with DEBRA Ireland head of fundraising and marketing, Michelle Reynolds, DEBRA patient ambassador Emma Fogarty (in wheelchair) and Georgina Herlihy, Emma's PA (far right). Picture: Michael Scully. StepTember StepTember - Trisha Lewis (far left) led the StepTember walking challenge for DEBRA Ireland. Pictured with DEBRA Ireland head of fundraising and marketing, Michelle Reynolds, DEBRA patient ambassador Emma Fogarty (in wheelchair) and Georgina Herlihy, Emma's PA (far right). Picture: Michael Scully.

Charity

Limerick influencer Trisha’s Transformation raises 100k for DEBRA Ireland

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3 years ago

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StepTember – Trisha Lewis (far left) led the StepTember walking challenge for DEBRA Ireland. Pictured with DEBRA Ireland head of fundraising and marketing, Michelle Reynolds, DEBRA patient ambassador Emma Fogarty (in wheelchair) and Georgina Herlihy, Emma’s PA (far right). Picture: Michael Scully.

Limerick influencer Trisha’s Transformation raises 100k for DEBRA Ireland

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

StepTember Trisha with her friend Emma Fogarty, who lives with EB. Picture: Michael Scully.

Trisha with her friend Emma Fogarty, who lives with EB. Picture: Michael Scully.


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Trisha Lewis, known online as Trisha’s Transformation, has raised a massive €110,000 for DEBRA Ireland, a charity supporting the 300 people in Ireland living with the painful skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). 

The social media weight-loss star raised the incredible sum by completing the StepTember Challenge, walking 10,000 steps each day of September, a total of 300,000 steps in just one month. Trisha encouraged her followers to sign up and join in for a good cause.

The Limerick native was inspired to support DEBRA Ireland after meeting friend Emma Fogarty, who lives with EB. The disease causes sufferers skin to blister when touched, so protective bandages are worn constantly. Changing these bandages every 48 hours is excruciatingly painful for Emma and all those who battle EB. 

“I’m really honoured to know Emma and to be friends with her,” says Trisha. “I witnessed her bandage change six weeks ago and will never forget Emma screaming in pain, then moments later cracking a joke with me. I now know a superhero.”

Trisha, who has over 200,000 followers on Instagram, also embarked on the StepTember Challenge as part of her weight loss journey. An executive chef, Trisha has lost an incredible seven stone, written two bestselling books and fallen in love with exercise since significantly altering her lifestyle. 

“I didn’t realise how difficult it would be to complete the steps, but when I got near the finish line, no matter how tough it got, I knew I was doing the challenge for anyone who suffers from EB,” admits Trisha.

Money raised during the month-long StepTember Challenge will fund vital research of the disease, as well as provide nurse and family care for those living with EB.

“The funds will make a big difference for people living with this awful condition, and for future patients too,” said EB sufferer Emma Fogarty.

“I am so proud of Trisha. She and everyone else who took part have blown the StepTember Challenge out of the water, so hopefully, this will grow into a bigger annual event.”

For more information about Debra Ireland and epidermolysis bullosa, go HERE 

To visit Trisha’s Transformation on Instagram, go HERE

For more charity stories, go HERE 
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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.