Work is ramping up in Donabate Portrane ahead of the inaugural Darkness Into Light walk on 11 May 2024. The walk will begin at 04h15 at the National Schools on the Portrane Road and will head down towards Portrane to greet the sunrise. The committee is made up of volunteers across all age groups and has proved a very successful mix of personnel tackling the myriad of tasks involved in organising an event like this. Lexi and Jack are from Donabate Community College’s WellBeing Committee and bring the views of the secondary school students. The Darkness Into Light Ambassadors for Donabate Portrane - Aisling Read, Ellen Matthews and Seán Collins - ensure the involvement of the young adults of the community.
PURPOSE OF DARKNESS INTO LIGHT - Each year the walk provides an opportunity for people to connect with their local community and to bring hope to people who have been impacted by suicide.Here in Donabate and Portrane, the local volunteers hope that everyone will join together on the day to help raise awareness and hope in the fight against suicide and self-harm. HISTORY OF DARKNESS INTO LIGHT - In 2009, 400 people in The Phoenix Park has the first Darkness Into Light 5km walk to raise funds for Pieta. From small beginnings, the movement has continued to grow, and now there are over 150,000 participants in Darkness Into Light each year. Together, Pieta, their partner charities, supporters and volunteers have grown Darkness Into Light into a global act of solidarity for people affected by suicide and self-harm.HOW CAN I JOIN IN? -You can register and sign up at darknessintolight.ie - If you’d like to help the committee, you can contact them on donabateportrane@darknessintolight.ie or on any of their social media accounts.