Maynooth kicks off Darkness Into Light fundraising and awareness event
Volunteers, supporters and local organisers gathered at the Maynooth University Library on Tuesday, April 12th as Pieta House launched the second annual Darkness into Light event in Maynooth.
Last year, an estimated 4,000 people participated in the first Maynooth event, which raised €50,000 for Pieta House, a suicide and self-harm crisis centre.
Taking place on Saturday, May 7th, 2016, Darkness Into Light is a unique, early morning experience which begins in darkness at 4.15am, when thousands of people walk or run a 5km route while dawn is breaking. This year more than 100 venues across Ireland and beyond will participate. In addition to raising much-needed funds, Darkness Into Light is also about awareness, solidarity and local communities.
“This event is powerful in its mission, its impact and its sense of purpose,” said Maynooth University Vice-President for Research Bernard Mahon, who completed the walk last year and spoke at this year’s launch event. “We at Maynooth University know that many, too many, of our students, staff and community neighbours have been touched by suicide. We believe strongly that events like Darkness into Light show that there is understanding, help and support available from families, friends and through the important work of Pieta House.”
The 2016 Maynooth event route begins on the Maynooth University North Campus and turns onto the Kilcock and Moyglare Roads before heading up the Main Street, turning left onto the Dunboyne Road and looping around through the pedestrianised Carton Avenue walk before heading back down the Main Street and through the South Campus of the University, back to the starting line. See attached route map.
Maynooth Committee Chair Mary Byrne said she expects as many as 5,000 people to participate in the event this year. She also asked that participants arrive at the event on the 7th May early – between 3:00 and 3:30am – to listen to music, pick up t-shirts not previously collected, and chat with fellow walkers/runners.
Online registration and further details are available now at www.darknessintolight.ie or www.facebook.com/darknessintolightmaynooth. Those interested can also register and/or collect their t-shirts:
- Wed., 20 April and Thurs., 21 April from 10:00-20:00 – Maynooth University Library
- Fri., 22 April from 9:00-13:00 – Maynooth Post-Primary School
- Fri., 22 April from 10:00-20:00 – Tesco
- Sun., 24 April from 10:00-14:00 – Parochial House
- Thurs., 28th April from 19:00-21:00 – Kilcock GAA
- Fri., 29th April from 9:00-13:00 – Maynooth Post-Primary School
- Fri., 29th April from 10:00-20:00 – Maynooth SuperValue
- Sat., 30th April from 10:00-18:00 – Maynooth SuperValue
- Fri, 6th May from 9:00-13:00 – Maynooth Post-Primary School
- Fri, 6th May from 19:00-21:00 – Maynooth University Students’ Union
From Mon., 25th April to Fri, 6th May, t-shirt collection ONLY is available at the Maynooth Bookshop, Main Street, from 10:00-18:00. Please bring a printed copy of your online registration confirmation.
About Pieta House
Pieta House is a suicide and self-harm crisis centre founded in Lucan, Co. Dublin in 2006. With nine centres throughout Ireland, Pieta House provides a professional, one-to-one therapeutic service for those who are experiencing suicidal ideation or engaging in self-harm. A doctor’s referral or psychiatric report is not required and the service is completely free of charge. Pieta House has supported 17,500 people, with more than 5,000 of those seeking help in 2014. Pieta House’s vision is to have a centre within 100 kilometres of everyone in Ireland.
Pieta House will set up its first pilot service in New York this summer as part of its plans to reach out to Irish diaspora who may be in need of the service. The service will be run from a room within the Irish Immigrant Centre in Queens, one of the main Irish communities in New York. The service is part of the overall plan to expand internationally.
For further information, visit www.pieta.ie.
