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 counselling 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] a charity which aims to support those who are in suicidal distress, engage in self-harm, or have been 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 were still able to provide services to communities across Ireland, servicing over 52,000 hours of counselling as well as answering over 70,000 crisis support calls.[8]Electric Ireland have sponsored Darkness into Light since 2013. They additionally help promote and raise awareness for 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]
