Still time to sign up for Darkness into Light 2018
There has been a phenomenal response by people signing up to take part in this year’s Darkness into Light walk at DkIT on May 6th in aid of Pieta House.
‘We have over one thousand people registered already,’ says Sean Kerr of the Dundalk committee, who expects last year’s turnout of 2,358, a record for an inaugural event, to be surpassed.
In fact, so many people were trying to complete the early bird registration on Wednesday night that the website crashed and the deadline was extended until midnight on Friday to facilitate all those availing of the discounted fee.
With stalls in The Marshes as well as local sports clubs and leisure centres and at events such as the Dundalk 10k and Patsy Kelly 5km, a huge number of people are expected to sign up for this year’s event, with all funds going to Pieta House, to help in their work on suicide prevention.
‘ There’s nobody in Ireland who hasn’t been affected by suicide or dosen’t know someone who has been affected,’ says Sean.
He said that people who have been affected by suicide have shared their stories while registering to take part in this year’s event.
He says that many people are walking in memory of a loved one lost to suicide.
‘Last year there were whole families carrying pictures of those who had died as a result of suicide - it was absolutely heart breaking.’
Among those signed up for this year’s event are over a hundred members of the St Mochtas GAA club who are taking part in honour of their late clubman Ken Meegan and all other members who have been affected by suicide.
Local rugby hero Rob Kearney has recorded a video in support of Darkness into Light which has been posted on the Dundalk committee’s Facebook page, with a number of other local celebrities also backing the event.
Registration is open until May 4th and in addition to registering locally, people can register on line at www.darknessintolight.ie