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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ a b Ruxton, Dean (7 May 2016). "'More than 120,000' take part in Darkness into Light walk". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ Pollak, Sorcha (9 May 2015). "Thousands take part in Darkness into Light walks worldwide". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Pieta House event shows light at end of darkness". TheJournal.ie. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Thousands take part in 'Darkness into Light' fundraising event". RTÉ News. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ "Here are some of the images from the Darkness into Light event". BreakingNews.ie. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c "About Darkness Into Light". Darkness Into Light. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ Peerworks Consulting (2018). "Case Study: Darkness into Light". Peerworks Consulting. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Pieta House (2022). "Our Story". Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Pieta House (2022). "Pieta". Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Darkness into Light. "Our Sponsors". Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ a b American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "Out of the Darkness Community Walks". Retrieved 28 January 2022.
External links
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