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PHOTO & VIDEO – Darkness into Light Limerick 2018 raises vital funds for Pieta House

Kieran O Brien, Pieta House National Events Manager, Hazel Ní Cathasaigh, Limerick Rose 2018 and Kevin Ryan, Electric Ireland cutting the ribbon at Limerick Darkness into Light 2018 at Thomond Park. Saturday, May 12, 2018. Picture: Zoe Conway/ilovelimerick

Darkness into Light Limerick 2018 raises vital funds for Pieta House

by ilovelimerick Correspondent Ryan O’Connell

Limerick was out in force to take aim at mental illness as the Pieta House Darkness into Light Limerick 2018 walk drew thousands to Limerick city this weekend. It is reported that over 10,000 took part in the annual fundraiser for Pieta House.

Darkness into Light Limerick 2018, which will mark the ninth time that the walk has taken place in Limerick began at 4:15 am this Saturday, May 12, and took participants on a six-kilometre walk across Limerick city.

Darkness into Light walks took place all over the country, as thousands began walking in the middle of the night and finish the walk as dawn is breaking. Over 100,000 people across 80 locations in Ireland and abroad took part in the annual walk last year, raising vital funds for the charity.

Opening in 2006, Pieta House is a suicide prevention organisation that aims to help those who are in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm. Since opening, Pieta House has helped over 30,000 people and opened 13 centres in Ireland.

Speaking on the importance of the event, Pieta House CEO, Brian Higgins, told ilovelimerick, “I want to ask everybody to wake up and join us at Darkness into Light Limerick 2018 in support of families and friends affected by suicide and self-harm. All of our services are free, but the demand for them is ever increasing. We all need to wake up to the stigmas that lead people to self-harm and into suicidal crisis, and to the doors of Pieta House.”

In addition to Darkness into Light Limerick 2018, smaller walks took place across the county in Kilmallock, Murroe, and Newcastle West.

The Darkness into Light walks in Limerick have raised around €160,000 for the Pieta House’s crisis centre in Limerick.

To register for Darkness into Light Limerick, go here.

For more stories on Darkness into Light, go here.

Pictures: Ciara Maria Hayes/ilovelimerick

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