Record numbers for Darkness into Light

With only days to go, record numbers have already signed up for Pieta House’s Darkness into Light as the suicide charity gears up for what looks to be the biggest turnout ever for the event.

Now in its fifth year, and taking place simultaneously in 20 locations nationwide – including at Belvedere House and Gardens – on the morning of Saturday May 11, Darkness into Light is being supported for the first time this year by Electric Ireland.

This unique event begins in darkness at 4am on Saturday (11 May) as thousands of people gather at locations across Ireland and walk or run a 5km route as dawn is breaking. Pieta House are asking people to bring glow sticks or torches to guide the way at the beginning of the walk.

This year’s turnout looks set to top last year’s record number of 15,000. Demand has been so high that there will even be two Dublin venues this year, the original Phoenix Park venue and a new route through Newbridge House Demense in Donabate.

“The buzz this year is incredible,” said Joan Freeman, founder and CEO of Pieta House. “I’ve just finished up a whistle stop tour of the country where I helped launch Darkness into Light in each of the 20 locations.

"It was great to meet all of our organising committees and get a sense of the excitement that’s building in each town. We brought our supporters Electric Ireland on the tour with us and they were delighted with the response we got. They even have a huge number of staff coming down to the walk in the Phoenix Park,” she said.

Rugby hero Brian O’Driscoll is backing the event and rockers Aslan pledged their support on The Saturday Night show in recent weeks; proceeds of their latest single Catch Your Fall with Don Mescall are going to Pieta House. Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea and the stars of RTÉ’s Love/Hate are also on board. Even the residents of Fair City’s Carrigstown are getting ready as a Darkness into Light billboard is currently taking pride of place on their set.

Pieta House recently opened a new crisis centre in Roscrea and will open three more centres this year in counties Cork, Galway, and Kerry. Registration for Darkness into Light is available online now at www.dil.pieta.ie. Entry costs €25 with reduced rates for groups, families, students, OAPs and jobseekers.