Connacht Rugby supports Darkness into Light

Connacht Rugby is calling on people across the province to sign up to what is set to be the biggest Darkness Into Light, the Pieta House annual fundraising and awareness event. As official charity partners to Connacht Rugby, representatives from suicide and self-harm crisis centre Pieta House Tom McEvoy and Donna Burke joined Connacht players Tiernan O’Halloran and Jake Heenan and the Connacht mascot Eddie the Eagle this week to encourage people to take part in this year’s event. DIL takes place in 22 venues across Connacht this year and overall 90 venues will host the event in Ireland.

Connacht Rugby Head Coach Pat Lam will be cutting the ribbon to open the Darkness Into Light 5km walk/race at Salthill, Galway at 4:15am on Saturday May 7^th and Connacht mascot Eddie the Eagle will run alongside fans and participants.

Taking place on Saturday May 7th, Darkness Into Light is a unique, early morning experience which begins in darkness at 4.15am as thousands of people walk or run a 5km route while dawn is breaking.

Commenting on the event, Pat Lam said:

“Darkness Into Light is a wonderful event, it’s an opportunity for people to get up early and join their communities in support of those affected by suicide or self-harm.”

“This year we are asking fans to get involved in Darkness Into light. That afternoon we play Glasgow in the Sportsground so it’s going to be a big day for us all, and we’re asking everyone to start their day by taking part to help raise awareness and fundraise for Pieta house”

About Pieta House

Pieta House is a suicide and self-harm crisis centre founded in Lucan, Co. Dublin in 2006. With nine centres throughout Ireland, Pieta House provides a professional one-to-one therapeutic service for those who are experiencing suicidal ideation or engaging in self-harm. A doctor’s referral or a psychiatric report is not required and the service is completely free of charge. To date, Pieta House has supported more than 20, 000 people, with more than 5, 000 of those seeking help in 2015.

For further information, visit www.pieta.ie. #DIL2016