During the event, a giant cheque for €43,948 – the amount raised during the 2025 Darkness Into Light campaign – was presented on stage to Community Help Service (CHS) President Jeremy Jennings. The funds helped ensure that the CHS Helpline, a free, confidential listening service available 24 hours a day, can continue supporting people across Belgium and beyond who are struggling with their lives or experiencing distress, including those facing suicidal thoughts.

The launch was hosted by Seamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, and attended by Micheal McGrath, the Irish European Commissioner and patron of Darkness Into Light Belgium, along with three campaign ambassadors and several Members of the European Parliament.

Speakers highlighted the importance of community solidarity in addressing mental health challenges. Jennings thanked participants, volunteers, and supporters whose contributions made the 2025 campaign such a success, noting the profound impact the funds have on maintaining the CHS Helpline and ensuring that someone is always there to listen.

One of the most powerful moments of the evening came from Katie Place, a member of the Darkness Into Light Belgium committee, who delivered a deeply moving speech recounting the times suicide touched her life and the moment she stepped back from taking her own life.

Darkness Into Light Belgium President Sarah Ironside introduced the theme for the 2026 campaign: “ONE MILLION STEPS – EVERY STEP COUNTS.” As part of the campaign, Ironside has committed to walking one million steps in the lead-up to the May event.

“Early this morning I walked with Katie,” she told the audience. “Katie is why I walk. I have walked 60,000 of the million steps already. But not one single step that I take can begin to be as important as that first step that Katie took.”

Ironside explained that over the coming weeks she will walk every day and share stories of both loss and hope. “940,000 more steps – every step counts – and with every step I will keep hope in my heart. Hope that the story I tell will inspire others to reach out for help, to call the Helpline, to say ‘I am not OK’, to ask for help.”

Guests were also shown a campaign video during the evening. A harpist welcomed attendees as they arrived, and the event concluded with a performance by the choir of St. John’s International School. Photographs of the event were kindly taken by Miguel Angel Vilar.

The 2026 Darkness Into Light walk will take place on May 9 at 5 a.m., when people across Belgium will gather before dawn to walk together in remembrance, solidarity, and hope. The main Belgian walk will take place in Brussels at Parc du Cinquantenaire, with additional walks planned in towns across the country.

Beginning in darkness and ending at sunrise, the walk symbolises the journey from despair to hope – and every step taken helps support suicide prevention and mental wellbeing. You can sign up to join the walk here.