Communities make it their own' 80,000 gather for Darkness into Light walks across the country

"What always gets me about Darkness Into Light is the way communities make it their own. "In the Phoenix Park, we had the Lucan Gospel Choir singing as people gathered before sunrise, which was really moving. Elsewhere, people take part in smaller local walks, or mark the sunrise in their own way, whether that's walking, going out in kayaks or yachts, or simply coming together in a way that matters to them.""

"Ahead of the event, Pieta House registered participants for 177 walks across 18 counties. One of the biggest walks on Saturday was held at the Phoenix Park, where there were an estimated 10,000 participants. The 5km early morning walks started at 4.15am on Saturday morning and finished as dawn broke and fundraised for the charity's suicide and self-harm prevention support services."

"In Ballinacourty, Aherlow, Co Tipperary, 18 tractors gathered for a charity baling event to raise funds for the charity. On the Abbeyfield Farm in Clane, Co Kildare, dozens of people also gathered on horseback to participate in the event. Beyond Ireland, the Irish embassy in Vancouver participated in a Darkness into Light event at Burnaby Lake Regional Park, east of Vancouver, along with crowds that gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia."

"Overall, the fundraiser is estimated to have raised between 3m and 4m. Mr Oakes added: Suicide and self-harm have such a deep impact on families, friends and whole communities, so seeing people respond together like this is incredibly powerful. People come for very personal reasons, but there's a real warmth and sense of togetherness to it. The fundraising is hugely important for Pieta."

Darkness Into Light walks took place across many counties in Ireland and in locations abroad, with 5km early morning routes beginning at 4.15am and ending as dawn arrived. Pieta House registered participants for 177 walks across 18 counties, including an estimated 10,000 participants at Phoenix Park. Communities shaped the event in local ways, such as choir performances before sunrise, sunrise gatherings by walking, kayaking, or yachting, and charity activities like tractor baling events and horseback participation. Irish embassy participation occurred in Vancouver, with crowds also gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney. A walk in Berlin took place at Tempelhofer Feld in partnership with TelefonSeelsorge. The fundraiser raised an estimated €3m to €4m, supporting Pieta’s suicide and self-harm prevention services.

Read at www.independent.ie