The public is being urged to sign up to a special Darkness Into Light (DIL) event that will take place on Saturday, May 8th this year and support a mental health charity local to them. DIL, one of the biggest global charity events of the year, returns in Northern Ireland for One Sunrise Together supported by Electric Ireland. The event organisers Pieta along with ambassadors Ian Young and Aoife Lennon (pictured), are encouraging people to sign up at DarknessIntoLight.com and mark the event with an activity of their choice – be that walking, running, hiking, biking or simply sharing their sunrise – to raise vital funds for suicide services
Darkness Into Light (DIL), proudly supported by Electric Ireland, returns in Northern Ireland for One Sunrise Together on the 8th May 2021.
This year, Pieta are asking the public to sign up online and mark the event with an activity of their choice – be that walking, running, swimming, hiking, biking or simply sharing their sunset. These activities carried out within Covid guidelines, will help shine a light on suicide and self-harm while raising vital funds for the prevention and bereavement services provided by 17 partner charities in Northern Ireland as well as Pieta, the founding charity of DIL.
In the run up to the 8th of May, Darkness Into Light ambassadors from a range of backgrounds will help drive people’s preparation and encourage them to sign up at darknessintolight.com, talking about the reasons they became involved and the importance of supporting the event. Darkness Into Light will also have community support from popular outdoor nature site Trek NI, who will help signpost the best walks and places to watch the sunrise from multiple locations in each county on a weekly basis through their site and social media, all the while acknowledging the need to adhere to Covid-19 restrictions.
Commenting on this year’s Darkness Into Light, Clare McAllister, Northern Ireland Residential Manager, Electric Ireland said: “Now more ever in these extremely trying times, our communities need encouragement, support and hope and so we are delighted to have Darkness Into Light return.
"Although this year we can’t come together in the way we usually do, we are confident that ‘together-apart’ we can play a role in raising funds for the essential services provided by charities right across Northern Ireland.
"We are extremely proud and grateful to have the support of the ambassadors and communities who have joined us to help raise awareness of how people can sign up and get involved in this year’s different but exciting event. While we can’t be together physically as in previous years, whether walking, running, biking or hiking, we will all be watching the same sunrise together and that is hugely important.”
Speaking on this movement of hope, Elaine Austin, Pieta CEO said: “We have all faced with some incredible and daunting challenges over the last year. Pieta is here to support all of those in suicidal crisis and our free counselling has continued, uninterrupted throughout the Covid lockdowns.
"Our clinical team provide services over the phone, via text and in-person in twenty centres nationwide and, since last year, we now provide free counselling over video. In 2020, we delivered over 52,000 hours of therapy and we received over 70,000 calls and texts for help through our 24/7 crisis helpline.
"Darkness Into Light is crucial in delivering the funds needed to support this level of service. We have a great partnership with Electric Ireland and the company have been unwavering in their support over the years. We are grateful too for our Darkness into Light committees who galvanise support for the event across the country year after year.
"It is important for all of us to hold on to hope and Darkness Into Light gives us the opportunity to come together under this one common purpose, to remember our loved ones and to help those struggling at this time, and I do hope you will all join us on May 8th”
As proud sponsors of Darkness Into Light since 2013, we look forward to another instalment as we raise funds for essential services across Northern Ireland. To find out more information about signing up and fundraising visit www.darknessintolight.com
Don’t forget to tag us your sunset snaps as you walk, run, swim, hike or bike on Saturday 8th May 2021.
@ElectricIrelandNI #DIL2021 #BrighterTogether