Nina for Life and HOPE will both host sunrise walks

TWO separate walks led by two local mental health services will take place this Saturday morning, May 11.

The NINA for Life Sunshine Walk will begin at 4am at the Kingswood Community Centre, while the HOPE (Hold On Pain Eases) walk will begin at the car park at Aherne’s on the Old Bawn Road at 5am.

In a post online about the Sunshine Walk, a spokesperson from NINA for Life wrote: “NINA’s main purpose is to raise awareness of suicide.

“We achieve this through education, training and community-based events.

“The challenge we set ourselves is to assist in removing the stigma of suicide within the local community and the wider society.

“[We want to] get people talking as young as possible so that everyone who needs help is not afraid or embarrassed to talk about their difficulties or ask for the help they need.”

In a Facebook post about their walk, a member of HOPE outlined that the walk will take place from 5am to 7am and the route will lead through Dodder Valley Park to the Firhouse Weir.

From there, the walkers will then go to The Edge café in Bolbrook to get post-walk refreshments shortly after sunrise.

“No registration or sponsorship required,” HOPE stated on Facebook. “Just turn up and enjoy the fresh air and the rising sun.

“To those who find yourselves in a dark place: we see you, you are not alone, we will walk with you into the light. We are always here to help.”

HOPE can be contacted via phone on 089 610 5476, or by messaging the HOPE Suicide Prevention Centre Tallaght Facebook page.

For further information on NINA for Life, visit the NINA for Life Suicide Awareness Facebook page.

More  information on Darkness into Light events in local parks HERE.

Pieta provides 24/7 support via the freephone crisis helpline on 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.