The second Belleek Darkness into Light walk was a huge community success and the organising committee would like to invite all those who helped in any way plus the participants, along to their appreciation night this Friday, May 26. 

READ;Reilly family to walk Darkness into Light
The event raised a very impressive 20,000 euros in what a true community, cross Border occasion.
Money raised from the raffle and donations will be presented to representatives from the Aisling Centre and Pieta NW, so come along to the GAA Centre for 8pm to see the walk video and have a cuppa.
Pieta House Centre for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-harm held its Darkness into Light charity walk/run for the first time in Belleek in 2016. 
The committee were delighted with the support received from locals and businesses alike. 
This included school children making lights and painting jars for along the route and providing lovely wall art to display on the centre walls, women’s groups doing home baking for a cuppa after the walk and many willing volunteers from both sides of the border for all sorts of jobs. 
The success of last year’s fundraiser for Pieta House left no doubt in the committee’s minds that the event would happen again this year. 
The Belleek walk is unique in that it is the only cross Border route ( Fermanagh / Donegal ). 
This brings its own challenges as we have to have medical and security personnel from both sides North and South of the border but there is wonderful teamwork and many willing volunteers.
Last September a tree of hope with the messages from the memory box that we had on the night of the walk, was planted in the grounds of Belleek Pottery - it bloomed just in time for this year’s event. Our banner of hope is now on display in the Helping Hand Shop in Belleek.
Now in its ninth year, the first DIL walk this year kicked off in New Zealand, spreading across the world, ending in Vancouver and San Francisco. 
Pieta House founder Joan Freeman launched DIL Phoenix Park, where the very first event took place in 2009. 
An outstanding 12,000 participants registered for the venue this year, compared to 400 eight years ago. In Ireland, almost 500 people die by suicide each year; that is ten deaths per week.
Darkness into Light is a unique event which begins at 4.15am as record numbers from every community all across Ireland and beyond came together for this very special event to raise vital funds for suicide prevention, suicide bereavement and self harm. 
This year seen approximately 1,000 participants take part in Belleek along with another 50 or so volunteers. 
There was an increase in the numbers of young people doing the walk which was great to see. 
The symbolism of commencing in darkness and walking into the light is what gives the occasion its impact in the community and enables us to deliver a potent message of hope to all. 
The weather was perfect for this wonderful community event which took place on Saturday, May 6. The feeling of hope was overwhelming. 
The committee thanks everyone for waking up and walking with them - together they know everyone can make a difference. 
Darkness Into Light has truly become a global movement and we the Belleek DIL committee are delighted to be one of the 150 venues and the Belleek committee will be planning it all again for May 2018.