Hundreds of people across Donegal took part in the Darkness into Light walk this morning.
Across the country, participants began their 5k walk at 4am, as the sun began to rise, to raise funds for Pieta House.
12 locations across Donegal took part in this year’s event.
Gweedore held the event for the first time on Saturday morning with over 300 people attending. Tory Island residents also took part.
Donegal residents in Dubai marked the event with friends from around the world.
Darkness into Light in Dubai.
It is this charity’s flagship annual fundraising and awareness event.
It started with approximately 400 people in the now iconic yellow DIL T-shirts walking the 5km course in Dublin’s Phoenix Park in 2009.
Since opening its doors 13 years ago, Pieta supported 40,000 people who were at the point of suicidal crisis and/or engaging in self-harm.
Speaking on this morning’s events, Elaine Austin, CEO, Pieta said: “Darkness Into Light unites us as people, from rural communities to major cities, across the globe, in a spirit of comfort and compassion to give and build hope. It connects us all, creating the energy for change, in which suicidal thoughts, self-harm and stigma can be replaced by hope, self-care and acceptance.
“It is vital for the delivery of our services and for raising awareness. We are so thankful to have had [insert participant numbers] people walking with us today from Darkness Into Light,” she added.
“I want to thank our volunteers, our supporters, our partner Electric Ireland and all the participants for their involvement in this year’s event.
“However, the journey continues beyond the finish line of the walk. It is vital that we continue to build hope.”
Darkness Into Light has become a global movement against suicide taking place in 202 venues across 19 countries in 5 continents, as people come together to remove the stigma around suicide and self-harm and spread the power of hope in Ireland and around the globe.
Check out some of the moments from Saturday’s walk below.
