EARLY RISERS ACROSS Ireland and around the world will take part in a unique fundraiser before most of us will have had our porridge on Saturday morning.
Darkness Into Light, a 5km event that participants are as likely to walk as they are to run, starts at 4.15am meaning friends and loved ones can share the sunrise together along the way.
In its seventh year running and supported Electric Ireland, the fundraiser is in aid of suicide and self-harm prevention centres Pieta House. When a group of 400 set off on the Phoenix Park route back in 2009, they surely wouldn't have imagined DIL growing into the enormous global gathering it has become.
80,000 people took part last year and that is expected to rise to 100,000 this time around. And while the majority of the 80 venues are in Ireland, there will also be editions in England, Scotland, the US, Canada and Australia.
“It’s remarkable to think that Darkness Into light will reach 80 venues in Ireland and abroad this year," Pieta House founder Joan Freeman said at the launch.
"Pieta House has a busy year ahead with the launch of a pilot service in New York this summer which will be based in the Irish Immigrant Centre in Queens.
"With the high rate of emigration over the last number of years and with all the generosity and support offered by Irish people to Pieta House we owe it to the Irish abroad to offer them a service should they need it.”
While the Phoenix Park event is now full, you can still sign up for most of the others. For more information, visit dil.pieta.ie
-- First published 06.15
