Darkness Into Light at Columb Barracks this Saturday

Mullingar is one of the host venues for Darkness Into Light, this Saturday May 10.

Joan Freeman, CEO of Pieta House, explains that Darkness into Light is a unique, early morning fundraising event which begins at 4.15am as thousands of people walk or run a 5k route while dawn is breaking.

This is the second year for Mullingar to host Darkness into Light, and Longford, Athlone and Tullamore are hosting events for the first time.

At the launch of the event in April, Ms Freeman said: “The Mullingar Darkness into Light walk was a huge success last year so I’m delighted that Athlone, Longford and Tullamore have also come on board, giving us a great spread throughout the midlands. I hope we’ll have huge numbers out on the morning of May 10. Thanks to everyone who has supported us and to Electric Ireland who are helping us to expand Darkness into Light into every corner of Ireland.”

Mary McEvoy, who has battled depression, joined Joan in saying a few words at the Darkness into Light launch, along with Liz Daly from the Mullingar committee, Peter Masterson from the Longford committee, Sean Gannon from the Athlone committee, Fiona Goulding from the Tullamore committee, and Sean Doolin, who represented the event’s sponsor, Electric Ireland.

This year, Pieta House are linking Darkness into Light with their Mind Our Men campaign, which aims to reduce male suicide in Ireland. They are asking participants to bring a male friend or family member with them on the walk, a friend, brother, father or work colleague.

Mullingar’s Darkness into Light event sets off from Columb Barracks, Athlone’s at Athlone Town Stadium, Longford’s at the Scout Hall, and Tullamore’s at Tullamore Rugby Club.

www.darknessintolight.ie.