Event aims to 'light up the night' for suicide awareness

Ciara McCullough, from Ballinahinch, Tipperary, was one year old when her father Joseph died.

Through her formative years Ciara, 24, had suicidal thoughts and felt somehow guilty for her father's passing. However, by talking openly about suicide, the photographer has found light at the end of a dark tunnel.

"I felt very sad in myself. It was something that weighed very heavily on me. I thought it was my fault, and I thought (that my father believed) I wasn't worth sticking around for, and that built up from a very young age," Ciara explained.

"That feeling, of not been good enough, kept going and in the relationships that I put myself into, whether they were friendships or a deeper relationship with somebody."

Having come through her own unique experience of suicide, her message to others battling depression is, "it's Ok to have that conversation".

Ciara explained the concept behind the UV Colour Run is to bring a little colour into people's lives.

"The fun run/walk is three kilometres and at every kilometre you get a different colour thrown at you. It's going to be at night time so all the colours will glow in the dark. It's my way of promoting positive mental health, by linking a positive event with mental health and to get people talking about mental health in order to normalise the conversation," Ciara explained.

A thousand people have already signed up for the family fun nighttime event.

"I just want people to come out and have fun and be happy. I think it will be a good event to draw people out, people of all ages, and people with all different kinds of fitness levels. You can walk or run or dance your way through this, and bring some colour to people's lives."

The run takes place at Clarisford Park, Killaloe, Co Clare, on Saturday April 25 with registrations from 7.30pm and ending around midnight.