Keane McDonald to support Pieta House Darkness into Light event 2024
Malwina Kempa • May 11, 2024
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 15 physical centres, they do everything we can to ensure that help is available to those in crisis.
In 2020, despite the impact of Covid 19, Pieta delivered over 52,000 hours of suicide intervention and bereavement counselling. They also answered over 70,000 crisis support calls and texts, and directly supported over 600 households impacted and bereaved by suicide.
Pieta are passionate about their life-saving work. And all services are provided free of charge.
In 2009, in the Phoenix Park in Dublin, 400 people set off on the inaugural Darkness Into Light 5km walk to raise funds for Pieta. From small beginnings, the movement has continued to grow, and around 200,000 people now take part in the event annually.
Each year the walk provides an opportunity for people to connect with their local community and to show their support for those who have been impacted by suicide. A team of dedicated volunteers, in Ireland and overseas, return year on year to make the event a success and to help us all continue to raise awareness in the global fight against suicide and self-harm.
Since Darkness Into Light began, supporters have helped raise almost €29 million, which has enabled Pieta to keep its doors and the 24/7 helpline open for people in crisis, free of charge. In 2012, the first international event took place in London, and since then international partner charities, from Seoul to Spain and New Zealand to the Netherlands, have benefited from an investment of over €3.5 million in local mental health support services.
This year, Keane McDonald are delighted to join Pieta along with supporters across the world, for a special Darkness Into Light sunrise.
