A large crowd gathered in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Monday evening, March 14, as Pieta House launched Longford and Westmeath’s Darkness Into Light (DIL ) 2016 series of events in association with Electric Ireland.
Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House, was joined by Kevin Molloy from Electric Ireland, former X-Factor contestant, Joe McCaul, along with members of local organisations and volunteers from across Longford and Westmeath for the launch of the event, now in its eighth year.
This year it will take place on Saturday, May 7. Last year in Longford and Westmeath, more than 2,500 people participated in this dawn walk/run and raised in excess of €69,000 for Pieta House.
Darkness Into Light is a unique, early morning experience which begins in darkness at 4.15am as thousands of people walk or run a 5km route while dawn is breaking. Last year’s event attracted in excess of 100,000 participants in more than 80 locations across Ireland and abroad.
“Last year’s Darkness Into Light in both Longford and Westmeath was an incredible success,” Joan Freeman said. “We’re so grateful to the people of Longford and Westmeath for your continued support. Your courage, vision, and generosity has helped Pieta House to bring hope to over 5,000 people every year. Together we are leading the way with Darkness Into Light now reaching communities from Athlone to Abu Dhabi and many more across the world.”
Pieta House is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. More than 20,000 people have come through the doors of Pieta House during the last decade, with 5,000 of those seeking help in 2015.
Online registration and further details are available now on www.darknessintolight.ie For more information contact Tom McEvoy from Pieta House on (087 ) 2430700.
