Pieta says thanks to Cork

Almost 12,500 people across 23 locations in Cork recently came together for the most important sunrise of the year.

Darkness Into Light, the annual fundraising event organised by Pieta, helped to raise almost €4m nationally to fund Pieta’s lifesaving suicide prevention services.

This figure is expected to increase over the coming weeks as public fundraising and corporate donations for the initiative continue.

These funds are crucial to help cover the €17 million it costs to run the Pieta services annually, including a new centre opening in Dunmanway in Cork.

Stephanie Manahan, Pieta CEO, said: “We are beyond grateful for the thousands of people who supported the event this year. To see so many people come out each and every year is truly inspiring and each and every person makes a valuable contribution in enabling Pieta to provide free, professional therapy for suicide prevention and bereavement in Ireland. On behalf of the entire team at Pieta, we want to thank every single participant, volunteer, and supporter. Thanks to you, we can continue to support those who need us most.’’

In Munster in 2022 alone, Pieta delivered over 14,000 hours of free, 1-to-1 therapy. More than 38% of clients presenting to Pieta in 2022 in Munster were aged between 18-35 years and a further 32% of clients in the same year were under 18. Nationally, the 24/7 crisis helpline received almost 100,000 calls and texts and supported close to 700 households bereaved by suicide.