Join dawn walks to raise funds for suicide prevention charities on 11 May

Come and join hundreds of people walking together from the darkness of night into the light of sunrise on 11 May at 5.00. 

That’s the plea by organisers of the annual symbolic fundraising walk Darkness Into Light. It is raising mental health awareness and funds to support two Belgian suicide prevention charities, Centre de Prévention du Suicide and Centrum ter Preventie van Zelfdoding.

While the main event in Brussels takes place in Cinquantenaire park, there are also walks in Laeken, Tervuren and Zaventem. Other locations across the country include Bruges and Ghent.

The initiative was launched in Dublin in 2009 with participants completing a 5km route to raise funds for the Irish charity Pieta House. 

Since then it has grown and gathered global recognition, while providing much needed support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. 

The Darkness Into Light Belgium walk is under the patronage of EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is supporting the fundraiser.

For its seventh edition in Belgium, all ages are invited to sign up, say organisers. By registering for the walk, funds are raised for Pieta House as well as the two Belgian suicide prevention charities.

‘#1732 Not Just a Number’ campaign

In the lead up to the event on 11 May, Darkness Into Light Belgium committee chairperson, Sarah Ironside, along with other committee members, are doing an additional walk. They are making this effort for the 1,732 people who died by suicide in one year (2020 figures) in Belgium. They are walking one kilometer for each life, one kilometer for those who grieve for them. 

Over the following week, expect to see yellow heart #1732 stickers placed in locations around Brussels to show that these lives are not just a number.

For further information, contact: sarah.ironside@ec.europa.eu

Other ways to back the campaign

If you are unable to join the walk but would like to support the initiative, here are some options to help the fundraiser:

• Purchase an original drawing by Tamar Levi via a charity art sale at the Green Door Gallery in Brussels
• Make a donation via the DIL website
• Buy a practical tote bag and show your support for DIL Belgium (Bank transfer: DILBXL ASBL BE90 0018 6162 7232

www.darknessintolight.ie/event/brussels.

www.facebook.com/DarknessIntoLightBrussels