Pieta House raises over €6 million from Darkness Into Light

People share their experience of walk on social media for mental health charity

Kinsale has marked the ‘Darkness into Light’ suicide prevention fundraising event with a special community initiative involving 206 emergency vehicles who paraded through the Co.Cork town in the rain just before dawn. Video: Jakub Walutek

Suicide-prevention charity Pieta House has raised over €6 million so far in its Darkness Into Light walking appeal.

Unlike normal years when tens of thousands of people gather around the world for a 5km walk at dawn, this year people were asked to share their experiences on social media through its Sunrise campaign, a canny piece of recasting that has furthered its reach.

Pieta House’s funding and advocacy manager Tom McEvoy said on Friday: “It’s gathering momentum. 130,000 people have already registered their events.”

"It's happening all over the world but especially in Ireland where people will be gathering in their own bubbles, socially distancing."

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By 8am on Saturday morning, the charity reported €6.4 million worth of activity already registered on its website.

Although Darkness Into Light has been successful in reshaping the flagship event in the last year – it accounts for half of Pieta’s annual funding – it is hoped the traditional walks will return from 2022.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times