Pieta House launches Sunrise Appeal after postponement of Darkness Into Light

James Fenton

Pieta House has launched its Sunrise Appeal which urges people to get up early and watch the sunrise on May 9, in the absence of Darkness Into Light.

The Sunrise Appeal has been put in place by Pieta House in the absence of the annual Darkness Into Light walk. This year’s event has been postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19 but the suicide charity is now asking people to ‘come together while remaining apart by getting up at 5:30am to watch the sunrise and to show community and solidarity with those impacted by suicide.’

The Sunrise Appeal will take place on Saturday, May 9, the same day the Darkness Into Light was due to be held. People are asked to spread the message and offer hope by sharing their sunrise moment using the hashtag #DIL2020.

Elaine Austin, CEO of Pieta said: “As a result of Covid-19, our helpline has seen an increase in calls from people all over the country who are in crisis right now with many others presenting with high anxiety. Our bereavement counsellors are supporting people who have lost loved ones and who are struggling to come to terms with their loss in a world where friends and family cannot grieve together as a result of the lockdown.

Please donate on https://t.co/ouceemnlNp so our services can remain in operation &continue to be delivered for free. While we are devastated that we cant be together physically on May 9th, we will share a special moment of togetherness by getting up at 5:30am & watch the sunrise. pic.twitter.com/CHzIxetlfS

— Pieta (@PietaHouse) April 21, 2020

She added that “Funding from the public has never been more vital to keep Pieta’s door open. The Darkness Into Light walk will hopefully take place later in the year, but we can’t wait – we’re urgently asking people to donate, whatever they can. This will help fund our services, ensuring we can continue to support those in their darkest hours and to keep delivering our one-to-one counselling.

“While we are devastated that we won’t come together physically on May 9th, we will share a special moment of togetherness by getting up at 5:30am and watching the sunrise. We would also appreciate if people can wear yellow or a previous year’s t-shirt that day to show support for those impacted by suicide.”

250,000 people were expected to come together all over the world for this year’s Darkness Into Light, which is the main annual source of funding for Pieta. If you wish to donate this year, you can do so via this link.