The Race of Hope Returns to Bradley Park To Raise Funds For Mental Health Research

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) celebrated the Eighth anniversary of its signature Race of Hope to Defeat Depression 5K Walk & Run in Palm Beach at Bradley Park. The event gathered over 1200 men, women, and children on Saturday morning in Palm Beach to support mental health awareness and urgent research into depression and anxiety.   

The celebratory event raised over $1.1 million and counting, breaking all previous records for HDRF’S cutting-edge, life-saving research into new treatments for mental health. 

HDRF Founding Chair Audrey Gruss and Advisory Council Member Scott Snyder, both Palm Beach residents, served as the Co-Grand Marshals of the 5K walk/run, which started at 8 AM at Bradley Park in Palm Beach.  

At the starting gun, participants set off to complete the 3.1-mile course starting at Bradley Park, as they took in the  gorgeous views of the Palm Beach Lake Trail. 

Lining up in the start corrals were professional runners, casual walkers, families with children and dogs, and teams from the local community, such as Environment Design Group, Grant Sory Real Estate, Hamilton Jewelers, Hanger Clinic with participants with adaptions such as prosthetic legs and feet, Kinder in the Keyes, Le Bilboquet, NuView Health, Palm Beach Day Academy, Pure Skin Palm Beach, and The Colony Hotel. 

All Race participants wore custom-designed jackets, shirts, and hats in HDRF’s signature yellow, creating a sea of sunshine with blue skies and palm trees as their backdrop. The Race of Hope is a USA Track and Field-sanctioned event.   

At the close of the Race, Audrey Gruss thanked everyone for attending before presenting the Awards to the top finishers and to the top fundraisers.  

“We’re excited to hold the annual Race of Hope in Palm Beach, made possible by the unwavering support of this community,” Gruss said.  “I started HDRF 20 years ago, and today we are on the leading edge of science into new and better treatments for depression, and on the forefront of ending stigma about depression. Thank you for joining us today to show your support for one of the most important public health issues of our day.”

The top Overall Male winner was Duniel Viera, and the top Overall Female was Niki Desjardin. The Award for Top Fundraising went to Team Le Bilboquet Palm Beach, which raised $29,207.58. Their team captain was Jenna Woodstock The Award for Top Individual Fundraiser from the Race went to Grace Walker, who raised $13,435. The Award for Largest Team went to Captain Sarah Wetenhall, representing The Colony Hotel with a total of 56 members. 

The Race Director then took the stage to hand out award to other finishers. Second Place for best male time went to Doug Schnittger and Second Place for best female time went to Kaori Alexander. Third Place for best male time went to Sam Frackelton and Third Place for best female time went to Lilia Drew. The top three Overall Masters awards for the male division went to John Reback for First Place, Saare Abera for Second Place and Corey McFarlane for Third Place. The top three Overall Masters awards for the female division went to Shannon Fox for First Place, Stephanie Stevens for Second Place and Jill Mahler for Third Place.

The Age Division winners include G. Zoumas  and A. Assad or 12 and under, Michael Pastore and Xenia Platt for 13-15, Ethan Ruiz and Eden Tiscione for 16-19, Jackson Overholt and Laetitia Roegner for 20-24, Simone DelRegno and Curry Fisher for 25-29, Matt Oleszczuk and Mariah Tarabocchia for 30-34, Alex Hyssen and Deviji Ramdeen-Schnittger for 35-39, Andrew Bierer and Christina Mulford for 40-44, Anderson Nunes and Mary Galbicka for 45-49, J M Charles and Erika Williams for 50-54, Marco Enriquez and Caroline Jemsten for 55-59, William Rivera and Marjorie Berry for 60-64, Thomas Kornelikand Leslie Schiller for 65-69, Rick Tully and Carol Hassell for 70-74, Jerry Mandello and Patricia Dye for 75 plus, and Michael C. Roston and Stella Blanco for 99 plus. 

Committee Race participants included: Kelly Barel Di Sant’ Albano, Danielle & Ronald Bradley, Barbara Crocker, Barbara & Alan Glatt, Jamee & Peter Gregory, Eleanora Kennedy, Simone Levinson, Sarah & Steven Levy, Meg & James McCartney, Mario Nievera, Teresa & James Remez, and Christine Schott. 

Junior Committee participants included: Chairs Grace & Randolph “Tally” Walker, Vice Chairs Katherine Lande & Kevin Condon, Bryan Ludwig, Hollis Bradley Pica and Grant Sory. Committee members Carolina Buia Barfoot, Stacey & David-William Coffin, CeCe Glatt, Jennifer Gowdy & Patrick Noone, Maggi Haigh, Kimberlee Knecht, Jennifer Lourie, Taylor Materio, Matthew McVay, Matt Oleszczuck, Whitney Lovell Schott, Farrah Scott, Kirsten Smith, Natalie Smith and Alanna Sutherland.

You can learn more about Hope For Depression Research Foundation by visiting, www.hopefordepression.org/  

Palm Beach Race of Hope Committee

Race of Hope Co-Grand Marshals: Audrey Gruss and Scott Snyder  

Diamond Level: Perri & Bob Bishop, James Borynack & Adolfo Zaralegui, Marvin H. Davidson Foundation, Laura & Brent Nicklas, Stacey Pashcow & Marc Caputo, Thomas Petterfey, Tricia Quick and Teresa & James Remez

 Platinum Level: Becky & F. William Bryan, Gita & Mark Costa, Philippe & Deborah Dauman, Kim Fennebresque, Christina & Brian Flaherty, Jamee & Peter Gregory, Charles & Kaaren Hale, Simone & David Levinson, Nicola & Jeffrey Marcus, Henry & Laura McNamara, Jane & Carl Panattoni, Alina de Almeida & John Paulson, Thomas C. Quick Charitable Foundation, Allison & Richard Roeder, Barbera Hale Thornhill and Lynne Wheat.

Gold Level: CeCe & Lee Black, Danielle & Ronald Bradley, Zoe Cacioppo, Pamela Cohen & Nick Korniloff

Wendy & Howard Cox, Jacqueline W. Drake, The Honorable David Fischer & Jennifer Fischer, Frances Fisher, Cindy & Chris Galvin, Jillian Gilmour, Yaz & Valentin Hernandez, Ann F. Jeffery, The Kontes Family, Melanie & Roger Lawson, Ginger and Larry Leeds, Ambassador & Mrs. John L. Loeb, Jr., Heidi & Tom McWilliams, Sam Michaels, Muffy Miller, Carole Moran, Pat Nadony, Mario Nievera, Joe G. Pacetti, Pamela & Edward Pantzer, Sallie B. Phillips, Katharine Rayner, Paola Bacchini & Arnold Rosenshein, Kara Ross, Frances G. Scaife, Christine Schott, Barbara & Randall Smith, Ginny & David Sydorick. Taylor Family Foundation and Maria Zoullas-Kaufman. 

Silver Level:  Catherine Adler, Kelly Barel di Sant’ Albano, Robin Baker Leacock, Geoffrey N. Bradfield, Elizabeth T. Cohen, Barbara Crocker, Diana and Llwyd Ecclestone, Susie & Vere Gaynor, Hilary Geary Ross, Barbara and Alan Glatt, Mara Goodman Davies, Darcy Gould, Ms. Pamela Gross & Mr. James Finkelstein, J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Foundation, Mrs. Eileen Judell, Jayne T. Keith, Eleanora Kennedy, Stephanie Loeffler, Meg & James McCartney, Lucia Nielsen Musso, Richard & Jane Novick

Chris Pappas, Jeffrey Pfeifle & David Granville, Joanna Roland, Sarah Salter Levy & Steven D. Levy, Diane & David Sammons, Nancy B. Schaffel, Betsy & Wally Turner, Lis Waterman, Nancy Yanofsky & Ed Brown, Clelia & Tom Zacharias, Matthew Ailey & Greg Zaffiro and Richard Ziegelasch. 

Palm Beach Race of Hope Junior Committee

Honorary Chair: Callie Baker Holt, Nick Mele 

Chairs: Grace and Tally Walker 

Vice Chairs: Bettina Anderson, Chloe Pearl Glaser, Callie Baker Holt, Katherine Lande & Kevin Condon, Bryan Ludwig, Hollis Bradley Pica, Grant Sory and Sarah Wetenhall.  

Committee: Carolina Buia Barefoot, Chris Coffee, Stacey & David-William Coffin, Samantha Curry, Linsey Walters Desich, Erin Donnelley, CeCe Glatt, Mary Goode, Krista & Matthew Gorelick, Clementine Goutal, Jennifer Gowdy & Patrick Noone, Maggi Haigh, Alexander Hamer, Henry Hays, Francesca Jabbour, Kimberlee Knecht, Jennifer Lourie, Taylor Materio, Matthew McVay, Nick & Molly Mele, Matt Oleszczuk, PJ Quick Pollack & Kristina Titova, Whitney Lovell Schott, Jared Seligman, Laine Siklos, Kirsten Smith, Natalie Smith, Alanna Sutherland and Eric Viner. 

Palm Beach Race of Hope Sponsors

Coastal Gardens, Environmental Design Group, Findlay Galleries, Grant Sory Real Estate, Gunster, Hamilton Jewelers, Kinder in the Keys Treatment Center,  Le Bilboquet, Lilly Pulitzer, Livingston Builders, Love Binetti, Marble of the World, Marissa Collections, NovaLuna Mental Health, NuView Health, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Palm Beach Illustrated, Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches, Pure Skin Palm Beach, Robert and Perri Bishop Foundation, Rubinson-Glaser Family, Smith & Elkin CPAS, Tammy Fender, The Breakers, The Scout Guide, and Top of Mind.

About Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF)

HDRF was founded in 2006 by philanthropist Audrey Gruss in memory of her mother Hope, who struggled with clinical depression. The mission of the HDRF is to spur the most innovative brain research into the origins, medical diagnosis, new treatments, and prevention of depression and its related mood disorders – bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and suicide. The World Health Organization has declared depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide, and yet conventional medications today are outdated and do not fully work for 50% of patients.  HDRF is working tirelessly to improve the mental health landscape for every American.  The Foundation has provided more than $80 million for breakthrough depression research that promises to transform the way depression is viewed, diagnosed, treated and prevented.  In 2012, HDRF created the Depression Task Force, an international collaboration of top neuroscientists from different universities who are compiling data and expertise to accelerate research.  HDRF has two clinical trials underway for potential novel antidepressants at Mount Sinai Medical Center and Max Planck Institute in Germany.  Other clinical trials for novel therapies are in the pipeline at Columbia University and Weill Cornell.