Darkness into Light charity walk is back

The Darkness into Light walk is returning to the Costa del Sol this May 20, 2025, for what is geared up to be its biggest year ever.

Darkness into Light Charity Walk is a global awareness campaign of suicide and self-harm prevention. ‘We walk in solidarity in memory of our loved ones lost’.

The walk was started by Pieta, which was established in Dublin in 2006 to help people in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm. Since then, they have been a vital lifeline to 70,000 people. They offer a range of essential supports completely free of charge and funded by community events such as this.

This year, in Benalmadena, La Cala de Mijas and Estepona, as well as some 150 locations around the world, the Costa del Sol community will be walking from darkness to light to raise funds for AFESOL, the mental health charity, as well as raising vital funds for them to continue their work. Bringing together communities in this way raises awareness about a subject that previously too many were afraid to talk about, and without talk, there is little hope in working towards preventing suicide and self-harm.

‘We walk in solidarity in memory of our loved ones lost’

The yearly Darkness into Light walk began back in 2009 when 400 people in the Phoenix Park in Dublin set off on the inaugural Darkness Into Light 5km walk to raise funds for Pieta. From small beginnings, the movement has continued to grow, and now there are over 150,000 participants each year. Since 2012, Darkness into Light walks have gone international, firstly in London and now at 150 locations around the world, all walking together in friendship and community to end suicide and self-harm. AFESOL, the beneficiary in Spain, runs workshops in secondary schools, individual psychological care for those with suicidal ideation or behaviour, attention and counselling for surviving family members, as well as psychosocial counselling for families.

The walk will literally start in the darkness of early morning and walk into the light of a new day. Mark the date in your diaries; the Costa del Sol routes begin at 6am on Saturday, May 10, in Benalmadena at Plaza el Remo (La Carihuela), La Cala de Mijas outside Biddy Mulligans Calle Cuesta Moral 6, and in Estepona at Chiringuito Blue Dolphin, Estepona.

To sign up for the charitable social event in Benalmadena, La Cala de Mijas or Estepona, visit darknessintolight.ie to book your place. For adults it is €24, teens between 13 and 17, €5, and under 13s go free. Let’s make the Darkness into Light walk the biggest ever this year.