Darkness Into Light fundraisers on May 6th

PIETA House’s flagship fundraising and awareness walk/run – will take place in 150 locations across the globe, including five on our own doorsteps this May.

Now in its ninth year, Darkness Into Light will start at 4.15am on  Saturday 6th May as thousands of people walk or run a 5km route while the dawn is breaking. 

Last year 130,000 took part and registration is now open at www.darknessintolight.ie with local events taking place in Clonakilty, Castletownbere, Dunmanway, Inchigeela and Skibbereen.

Since it began in the Phoenix Park in Dublin in 2009 – DIL has grown into a global movement against suicide. Funds raised help to keep Pieta House counselling services free to those in suicidal crisis, people who engage in self-harm and those bereaved by suicide.

Pieta House CEO, Brian Higgins is encouraging more and more people to participate in DIL to help achieve the charity’s vision of a world where suicide, self-harm and stigma have been replaced by hope, self-care and acceptance. ‘I want to ask everybody to wake up and join us in support of families and friends affected by suicide and self-harm,’ he said.

‘All of our services are free, but the demand for them is ever-increasing. We all need to wake up to the stigmas that lead people to self-harm and into suicidal crisis and to the doors of Pieta House.’

This year, Darkness Into Light will take place in more than 150 locations worldwide – from Athlone to Ottawa, from Brisbane to Hong Kong and from Quebec to Reykjavik.

Darkness Into Light is vital for fundraising, for raising awareness and for bringing people together as we do everything we can to eradicate suicide. It is supported by Electric Ireland. 

To find your nearest venue and to register now, visit www.darknessintolight.ie. 

•Pieta offers free counselling to those suffering from suicidal ideation, those who have been bereaved by suicide and people who are engaging in self-harm. Staff are fully qualified and provide a professional one-to-one therapeutic service. Pieta House also operates the free 24-hour suicide helpline 1800 247 247. For more information, visit www.pieta.ie