Darkness Into Light: Help Pieta House this weekend

Thousands of people take part in the annual sunrise fundraiser in aid of Pieta House. While we can’t walk together this year, here’s how to help while staying apart

The annual Darkness Into Light fundraiser in aid of Pieta House is usually a chance to rally together and do something positive for our loved ones affected by suicide. While coronavirus restrictions mean the walking events around the country are cancelled, there are still lots of ways you can support the charity during this challenging time.

Instead of gathering for a walk together at sunrise, Pieta House is encouraging people to wake up early on Saturday, 9 May, and watch the sunrise at 5.30am safely from their homes and gardens, as a way to show solidarity while staying apart. Afterwards, make a donation if you can at darknessintolight.ie.

Your donations will help Pieta House to deliver lifesaving services to people at risk of suicide and self harm, and those bereaved by suicide. The current crisis is increasing demand on their services, and the cancellation of the sunrise walk fundraiser puts them in a worrying position.

This week The Late Late Show will be supporting Darkness Into Light. Pieta House CEO Elaine Austen will speak to Ryan, and Paul McEvoy will share his personal story. The show will also feature well known faces such as Mary McAleese, Pierce Brosnan, Adam Clayton and music from A Woman’s Heart.

There are other ways to show your support too. Irish people are getting very creative with ways to lend their support to the charity during lockdwon. A musical society in Cork recreated the uplifting song, You Will Be Found, from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, to raise awareness of the financial challenge ahead of Pieta House. They are asking for donations for Darkness Into Light on GoFundMe. Watch it here:

The Kildare Minor girls will be participating in individual 5km runs at sunrise on May 9 in aid of Darkness Into Light, and they are asking people for donations on GoFundMe.

St Patrick’s Scout Group in Dundalk in Co Louth will be holding an online quarantine quiz to raise money for Darkness into Light. Minimum donation is €10 at GoFundMe. Registration is closed, but perhaps if you do a quiz with family and friends at the weekend, you can donate something towards this great cause.

The May | June issue of Irish Country Magazine is in shops and available for digital download now. Take a look at what’s inside here.