The fundraiser in support of Pieta House, as communities across Ireland and around the world came together before dawn in a powerful show of solidarity and hope.
The annual 5km charity walk began at 4:15am this morning, with participants setting off from 170 locations worldwide to walk from darkness into dawn, a symbol of hope for those impacted by suicide and self-harm. While the majority of events took place across Ireland, the earliest walk began in Australia, with the final event due to conclude later in Canada.
The largest gathering took place in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, where an estimated 10,000 people joined together for the event. In addition to the traditional walk, supporters also took part in a range of fundraising activities including running, sailing, and horse riding.
Pieta House hopes to raise between €3 million and €4 million through this year’s campaign, with funds going towards the organisation’s free suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and mental health support services.
Darkness Into Light began in 2009 with just 400 participants. Since then, it has grown into a global movement, with more than 2 million people estimated to have participated over the years. To date, the fundraiser has raised more than €40 million in support of suicide prevention and mental health services worldwide.
