Laois Senior Football Champions, Portarlington are joining forces with Durrow Lions AFC and staff at the Midlands Prison to host 5km walks as part of Darkness Into Light 2023 in aid of the charity, Pieta.
All walks begin tomorrow morning, Saturday 6th of May.
Portarlington GAA say they are proud to renew their partnership with Darkness into light to raise both awareness, and funds for Pieta house.
Participants will meet at 3.45am at MCann Park where the route will begin and end.
The club have invited people to join them for “the most important sunrise of the year.” No registration is required and donations can be made on the day or at at this link.
Durrow’s first walk will start at 4.15am from Lions AFC grounds, taking participants out the Abbeyleix road, turning down towards Dunmore Wood, onto the Swan Road, and back towards the pitch.
Organisers have confirmed there will be musicians along the route to entertain the walkers.
Midlands Prison staff and families will also hold their walk at 4.15 am, starting from the prison car park, on the Dublin road in Portlaoise.
Mountmellick, where the first and biggest walks were held in Laois, will not host a walk in 2023.
There are several walks taking place in surrounding towns, including:
- Carlow: departs Askea Parish Church, 4.15
- Monasterevin: departs Father Prendergast Park, 4.15
- Athy: departs Athy College, 4.15
- Roscrea: departs Roscrea Abbey Community Centre, 4.15
Individuals and teams can also register on the website to do their own challenges and seek fundraising donations.
Entry is €26 for adults, €5 for a child and €62 for a family.
People are urged to reuse a yellow Darkness Into Light t-shirt from a previous walk to ensure as much income as possible goes to the service, and to save the environment.
Pieta provides free, therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress, engage in self-harm, or bereaved by suicide, 24/7.
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: Laois secondary school hosts fundraising fun day in memory of the late David Brown
