Thousands walk as day breaks to bring a meassage of hope and help to those impacted by suicide.
One hundred thousand people across Ireland and beyond have taken part in this morning's five kilometre 'Darkness into Light' walk. The fundraising event, organised by Pieta House, is held to raise suicide awareness.
They ran, they jogged, they walked, from darkness into light.
Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House, says that 'Darkness into Light' has become a national voice and a national movement on suicide awareness. At the Phoenix Park in Dublin, 12,000 people took part in the event. In solidarity with participants in Ireland, Irish people across the world are making the dawn walk a global event. For many, the event is a personal one. One young woman is taking part to remember her friend who died by suicide. Another describes how her grandfather died by suicide in 2012 and she has been doing the walk since then. For others, it is their first time to take part and they would recommend it to others.
The message from today's event is, there is hope, there is help, and Pieta House is there to provide both.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 9 May 2015. The reporter is Petula Martyn.
Freephone Pieta at 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
