Councillor Stephanie Quigley is delighted to announce that the annual ‘Darkness into Light’ Walk will be coming to the Causeway Coast for the first time this year on Saturday 11th May.
Each year, thousands of people across Ireland and internationally take part in a pre-dawn walk to raise awareness of suicide and support services available to people affected by it.
Walkers and runners gather just before dawn and walk through the dark before taking in the sunrise.
As Stephanie explains, “The mission of Darkness Into Light is to raise funds for the suicide and self harm charity Pieta House and they have partnered with the Samaritans here in Coleraine to bring much needed funds into our local area. This campaign will raise vital funds for suicide prevention, suicide bereavement and self-harm.”
Stephanie is the Chairperson of the Committee which also includes the local couple behind bringing the campaign to Portrush, Roger and Abigail Glasgow. They have recently returned to the Causeway Coast after being involved in the Darkness into Light Campaign for a number of years in Galway.
Roger says, “Seeing everyone arrive and take part in their yellow t-shirts is a special moment. It shows how we are all the same and in life we all journey difficult times. There are people walking beside you who have lost someone close to them and on the other side you could have someone feeling there may be no hope left and seeking help.”
The event started in 2009 when 400 people walked in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Since then, it has spread to communities across Ireland and internationally.
Last year, there were nine venues across Northern Ireland in Ballymena, Hannahstown, Newtownabbey, OrmeauPark, Derry, Rostrevor, Lisnaskea, Cookstown and Strabane.
The movement has now covered one million kilometres in locations around the globe, including Australia, Canada, and countries across Europe.
For more information and to get involved find DIL Causeway on Facebook and Instagram, or email [email protected]
