This year’s Darkness Into Light takes place tomorrow morning and people across the country are being encouraged to sign up to share ‘One Sunrise Together’ on May 8 as part of the major fundraiser for mental health charity Pieta.

Pieta, which runs Pieta House in Letterkenny, helped 237 people in the Donegal area in 2020 and provided 4,176 hours of counselling in 2020 and 2019.

The Darkness Into Light event is the charity’s main fundraising activity but due to Covid-19 guidelines, there are no organised walks and people have been asked to take part in any way they can – walking, running, swimming, biking or simply watching the sunrise on Saturday morning.

With over 22,848 calls and texts placed to Pieta’s free crisis line so far this year, support is vital to ensure this service remains freely available to everyone 24/7.

Four out of ten people who accessed Pieta’s services in 2020 cited loneliness as a trigger for their reaching out, so this year’s Darkness Into

Light is about much more than raising funds; it’s about helping people feel connected.

Fundraising manager Tom McEvoy encouraged everyone in the county to take part.

He said, “Pieta is continuing to offer counselling services in the North West region and over 4,000 hours of face to face counselling were delivered in Donegal.

“Our 1800 247 247 number is very busy and we are continually offering huge support to the people of the North West through that free phone number.

“All of our services are completely free of charge and thanks to the support from people in the region, we are able to continue with those services and hope to do this long into the future.

“This is an unusual year for Pieta as for the past 13 years with the exception of last year, we have had people from Donegal gathering at different  areas throughout the county, but this year, it is a virtual and new event.

“We are asking people to share the sunshine – wherever they are as it is a moment that we can unite in whilst still physically apart.

“It aims to shine the light on suicide and self harm,” said Mr Mc Evoy.

Darkness Into Light is organised by Pieta and proudly supported by Electric Ireland since 2013. It is a global movement dedicated to ending suicide and supporting those who engage in self-harm.

To sign up, visit www.darknessintolight.ie. Pieta also operates the free 24 hourr suicide helpline 1800 247 247 and a 24- hour. text service – Text HELP to 51444