Darkness into Light

Darkness into Light is an annual walking event and fundraiser held, primarily, across the island of Ireland.[1] Participants meet before dawn (4:15am) on a particular Saturday in May and walk or run for 5 km to meet the sunrise.[2][3] Founded in 2009 by psychologist Joan Freeman as a fundraiser in the Phoenix Park for Pieta House suicide prevention and counselling, 400 attended the first event while the 2017 event was attended by an estimated 150,000[4] participants at more than 150 locations.[5] Similar events occur in Australia and New Zealand, Asia and North America.[1][4][6][7] The fundraising event has risen from 400 participants, at its inauguration in Dublin 2009, to over 200,000 throughout global 150 locations in 19 countries by 2018.[8][9]

Pieta House

The Darkness into Light event is a fundraiser for Pieta House which provides counseling to anyone struggling with suicide or for anyone impacted by suicide.[8] Joan Freeman, an Irish psychologist and politician, founded Pieta House in 2006.[10] Pieta House aims to support those who are in suicidal distress, engage in self-harm, and are bereaved by suicide.[11] They offer free services with the goal to ensure accessibility and help to anyone in need. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Pieta House was still able to provide services to communities across Ireland, servicing over 52,000 hours of counseling as well as answering over 70,000 crisis support calls.[8] Electric Ireland has sponsored Darkness into Light since 2013. They additionally help promote and raise awareness for the Pieta House.[12]

Out of the Darkness Walk Fundraiser

Out of the Darkness Walk is a similar event to the Darkness into Light fundraiser held in the United States.[13] Beginning in 2004, It is a community walk that takes place in towns across the country. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention created this event as a way for anyone impacted by suicide (survivors, family members, friends, communities) to come together. Similar to the Darkness into Light Walk, this event is a walking fundraiser where participants walk-side-by-side in support of one another. The goal of this event is to bring more awareness to mental health, fight suicide and also remember loved ones lost to suicide.[13]

References
  1. Ruxton, Dean (7 May 2016). "'More than 120,000' take part in Darkness into Light walk". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  2. Pollak, Sorcha (9 May 2015). "Thousands take part in Darkness into Light walks worldwide". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  3. "Pieta House event shows light at end of darkness". TheJournal.ie. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. "Thousands take part in 'Darkness into Light' fundraising event". RTÉ News. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  5. "Here are some of the images from the Darkness into Light event". BreakingNews.ie. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  6. O'Regan, Michael (9 May 2017). "Taoiseach had 'neck' to go on Canadian Darkness into Light walk, says Senator". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  7. "Pieta House founder surprised Enda Kenny had 'the neck' to take part in Darkness Into Light". BreakingNews.ie. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  8. "About Darkness Into Light". Darkness Into Light. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  9. Peerworks Consulting (2018). "Case Study: Darkness into Light". Peerworks Consulting. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  10. Pieta House (2022). "Our Story". Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  11. Pieta House (2022). "Pieta". Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  12. Darkness into Light. "Our Sponsors". Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  13. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "Out of the Darkness Community Walks". Retrieved 28 January 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.