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Over five hundred people made an early start to their day this morning to support the annual Pieta House Darkness into Light event at Derramore Woods, Bessbrook. It was one of hundreds of similar events throughout the island of Ireland and indeed overseas helping to raise funds for suicide prevention charities. Indeed before donations on the day were considered organisers had already raised an absolutely incredible sum of over £19,000. The sheer number of volunteers and participants involved in the running of the event spoke volumes for how tight the local community is, and how much they wanted to support the initiative.
It was a perfect mild night for the walk. As it started the milky moon was shining through the clouds on its way to setting for another day and the stroll itself around the beautiful Derramore forest was accompanied by the birds singing in the dawn and as the event came to an end the sun could be seen trying to peep through the clouds in the distance above the 18 arches.
Everyone had a different reason to be there. Some to remember a lost one to suicide, some to show solidarity to a community which like so many others have suffered over the years and some just for the sense of adventure and a chance to catch up with friends.
Seamus McCabe from Pips Hope and Support thanked the organisers and pointed out that there is help out there with the biggest step, realising that you need it. "once you've realised that, that's the first step to a pathway where you are going to get all the resources and support that you need."
Raymond Flynn, one of the many organisers said "We've just finished up here. Yet another year Darkness into Light and it's brilliant to actually see people coming together, in the community helping out, raising money, raising awareness of suicide and self harm. It's such a growing problem and that's tantamount to the numbers that have come out here today.
"We had over 500 people here today. That's our biggest crowd yet. In terms of fundraising, we've been here four years. We raised £1900 the first year. We had £4000 in year two, about £8000 last year and as of last night we have raised £19,000 here. That's all going to help Pieta House and Pips Hope and Support our local charity to try to support all those people who are suffering from self harm and that's what it's about. We walk from the darkness because people are in the darkness, into the light and you have to remember whatever's going on, there is always hope"
With the birds still singing their hearts out and the cattle in the fields beginning to come to life the crowd dispersed some heading back to the bed and others staying up determined to squeeze in as much as possible in the day ahead.
