Cork volunteers will be needed for Pieta’s May charity runs

Thousands of people across Cork will run and walk from Darkness into Light this May at sunset in support of Pieta’s annual fundraising event.

A record 30 venues in Cork will be host 5km walks this year, which will require new volunteers on the morning.

Cork city’s biggest walk will take place from the grounds of University College Cork (UCC), while a Cork northside walk begins at Glen Rovers hurling club and Glanmire will host their own, beginning at Glanmire Community College.

Walks and runs across Cork county will include: Ballincollig, Ballyvourney. Ballineen/Enniskeane, Ballyvourney, Bandon, Bantry, Blarney, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Cobh, Drinagh, Dunmanway, Farran, Fermoy, Inchigeelagh, Kanturk, Kinsale, Macroom, Mallow, Midleton, Millstreet, Mitchelstown, Schull, Sherkin Island, Skibbereen, Watergrasshill, and Youghal.

All events will be held in the early hours of May 9, with most beginning at 4.15am.

UCC committee member Majella Cremin said: “It is great to see new venues coming on-stream, especially after the missing years of Covid 19 and, hopefully, the 2026 events will continue to lead to a revitalised, shared experience of strength and camaraderie for all those impacted by suicide.

“With all the new venues, it will mean volunteers are needed more than ever and I know that we in the UCC event are looking for new supporters to get involved. Registration is open now on darknessintolight.ie. Anyone wishing to volunteer for any of the city walks can contact us on our social media pages.”

Pieta’s helpline responded to more than 114,837 crisis calls and texts across Ireland last year, provided 7,445 individuals with one-to-one care, supported 2,915 clients under 18 years of age with 17,880 hours of therapy, and gave over 51,493 hours of counselling to people who were in crisis.