For those of you who don't already know, Pieta House is an Irish crisis centre for the prevention of suicide and self harm. Their first centre opened its doors in Lucan in 2006 and since then they've opened 6 more centres all throughout Ireland. Pieta House currently has around 170 staff members who each work tirelessly to provide this great service for suicide and self-harm prevention for the people of Ireland. In 2013 over 4,000 people contacted Pieta House for help and these numbers are rising every year. The service is completely free and Pieta House receives just 10% of its funding from the government and the other 90% comes purely from donations and their fundraising events such as Darkness Into Light.
Darkness into Light into is a one of a kind event run by Pieta House every year for the last 6 years and this too grows every year! In 2013, over 40,000 people took part across 20 different locations, and this year there's even more! On the 11th of May 2013 at 4.15am we left the start line in the dark of the night, all wearing our yellow t-shirts we started walking, we walked the 5km across Phoenix Park, there were so many people with small children in buggies and even some canine friends came along in their very own yellow shirts! We were accompanied by the Dublin Gospel Choir around the 3km mark and then the thousands of us crossed the line just as dawn broke in the sky over Phoenix Park. Every single person standing in Phoenix Park that morning was there for the very same reason, to support Pieta House and the people they support. There are no words to describe the atmosphere created by thousands people in one place for the exact same reason, so many people there had been affected either directly or indirectly by suicide or self-harm and so many people were there simply to support. 
In 2013 Ireland had the 4th highest suicide rate among young people in Europe, so now more than ever we need services like those that Pieta House can provide to help and support the people of Ireland. Last year, Pieta House saved 3,000 lives and without the funding raised through events such as Darkness Into Light that wouldn't have been possible. Two years ago Pieta House and their services became a cause very close to my heart... So I'm walking, are you?
Please, please, please consider keeping 4am on the 10th of May free and taking part in Darkness Into Light 2014. It is for such an amazing cause and just think of how great it will be to fall back into bed afterwards!
No matter where you are in Ireland there will be a Darkness Into Light somewhere near you. There are 7 locations in Connacht, 12 in Munster, 3 in Ulster and 15 in Leinster. If you're even further afield, this year Darkness Into Light is also going international for the first time with one running in London and one running in Sydney! You can see a full list of all of this years venues here!
I'll be in Phoenix Park at 4am on May 10th and I hope as many of you as possible can take part too, be it there or at any of the events across the globe!
Your blogger, Lisa :)
- You can click here to register right now > Darkness Into Light 2014
- You can find their Facebook page here > Darkness Into Light Facebook
- You can also find Pieta House on Twitter @PietaHouse or @DILDublin
