The local committee recently launched this year’s event at the Scouts Hall in Nenagh, which is due to take place on Saturday, May 7th at 4.15am, and they took the opportunity to discuss a number of exciting ideas that they are currently planning as they work to bring the Darkness Into Light (DIL) 5km walk back to the streets of Nenagh after a three year break.
DIL is the main fundraising source for Pieta, which was founded in Dublin in 2006. Pieta was established to provide free, accessible one-to-one counselling to people suffering from suicidal ideation, engaging in self-harm or to those bereaved by suicide. With over 200 qualified therapists across 20 physical centres, they do everything they can to ensure that help is available to those in crisis.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s Nenagh DIL, the Chairperson, Ryan O’Meara, discussed some of the exciting ideas that the committee have in place for this year’s event, saying: “We are really looking forward to bringing DIL back to Nenagh this May after a three year Covid-related hiatus. The pandemic has been exceptionally difficult on many people and this type of fundraising and community activity is more important than ever.
“To try and make the most of this year’s event, and to encourage more people than ever to get involved, the DIL Nenagh committee are working on a number of exciting ideas to bring even more energy, more community involvement, and a greater sense of hope as we walk, as a collective, from darkness into light during sunrise on the morning of Saturday, May 7th.
“The route will follow the same route as we did in 2019, and will start at the Scouts Hall before going down around the main streets of the town, back up the Dublin Road, up Summerhill and out to the bypass, back in the Dromin Road, and finally around by the courthouse and back to finish at the Scouts Hall, where the committee will again be serving drinks and refreshments.
“This year, we are appealing to local businesses and premises along the route, and especially those on Kickham St., Pearse St. and Kenyon St. to decorate their window displays in the yellow of DIL, to help spread an atmosphere and sense of hope along the route. We are also contacting local businesses for donations towards our teas, coffees and refreshments, and so far, we are absolutely delighted with the generous response we have been receiving from local people.”
Ryan continued to detail the efforts being made to engage with young people more in relation to the work of DIL Nenagh, saying: “The response from local schools in Nenagh and surrounding areas has also been very warm, and some have agreed to host ‘yellow days’ where pupils will wear yellow into school for the day and bring a small donation towards DIL. We have also received positive responses from other schools that they will support the cause this year, and we are absolutely delighted with this as it is helping to raise both awareness and vital funds for services that assist all ages.”
Ryan concluded saying: “We would finally like to encourage as many local people as possible to sign up before the March 31st early bird deadline! If you sign up before the end of the month, you will be able to avail of the early registration discount and also be guaranteed that your yellow DIL t-shirt will arrive on time for the event. You can sign up at DarknessIntoLight.ie”.
