Pieta House to repeat Cavan 'Darkness into Light’ event

Following the enormous success of last year’s event when hundreds of local people gathered to begin a five-kilometre walk in early-morning darkness, only to finish amid breaking dawn light, Pieta House, the organisation for the prevention of self-harm or suicide, is to host a Cavan event later this year.
This year’s 'Darkness into Light’ charity run or walk will take place on May 11 from 4am, starting at the Orchard car park at Drumalee and follow a route taking participants right through the centre of town and back again to the Orchard for a warming cup of tea.
Online registration is open now at dil.pieta.ie, where participants can also take a sneak peek at the route.
There is a special early bird registration fee of €20 for the month of March, while, along with launch nights due in April, the Cavan branch of Pieta House will be holding pre-registration nights at a number of locations in Cavan and Clones, yet to be announced.
People can keep up to date on all information relating to the event by logging onto www.facebook.com/Cavan.
“This year, we will be handing out T-Shirts at the registration nights - so you can arrive for the walk all kitted out! If you register online or on the morning of the walk, you can collect your T-Shirt on the morning” said organisers.
Earlier this year stars of the hit RTÉ crime drama Love/Hate, Aoibhinn McGinnity and Peter Coonan, proved to be nothing like their characters Trish and Fran as they cheerfully turned out to launch the 'Darkness into Light’ fundraising walk in aid of Pieta House.
Pieta House provides a professional, face-to-face, free of charge therapeutic service for people in the acute stages of distress.
The unique clinically-based model developed by Pieta House is used across its five centres. Pieta House’s primary aim is to reduce suicide by helping people get through that critical phase - when suicide becomes a plan rather than just an idea. To date, over 8,000 people have been helped by Pieta House.
The suicide rate in Ireland is among the highest in Europe and a survey of incidents nationwide between 2004 and 2008 found Cavan’s rate was nearly twice as high as neighbouring counties, a figure that has reportedly not abated much in subsequent years.
Last year, the events, all which of run concurrently had record turnouts of 15,000 or more people across 14 counties, while this year, the 'Darkness into Light’ walk will take place at 20 locations nationwide including Cavan.