By Bernard Clemens
The Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s (HDRF) fourth annual NYC Race of Hope to Defeat Depression united 380 participants including families and students on Sunday, May 10th at The Davis Center in Central Park. The event, which sold out two weeks before the Race date, raises awareness about the crisis in mental health in the U.S. and fights the stigma that still surrounds mental health.
This year, Kenneth Cole, American designer, social activist and founder of The Mental Health Coalition, served as the Celebrity Grand Marshal. The Mental Health Coalition is a collective of the nation’s largest, most influential and diverse mental health organizations. Its mission is to build a like-minded community that works together to destigmatize all mental health conditions and enable equitable access to vital resources and support for all.
HDRF Founding Chair Audrey Gruss took to the podium before the Race to thank participants for their support and commitment to mental health awareness, speaking about the foundation’s mission and latest research progress.
Gruss said: “This year marks the 20th anniversary of our foundation, and we are making incredible strides in research. Most recently, we have identified 20 genes linked to depression and are now conducting human clinical trials to test potential new categories of antidepressants.”
She continued, “Today I am thrilled to introduce our Celebrity Grand Marshal Kenneth Cole. Kenneth embodies a powerful blend of the brain and the heart, the material and the spiritual, much like the mission of Hope for Depression Research Foundation.”
Cole said: “We are privileged to be able to work with this organization, to watch, admire, and support the work they do. Their commitment to advancing our shared agenda is extraordinary, and the power of collaboration is unprecedented. There is an old African proverb that I often default to: ‘Alone, you can go fast. Together, you can go far.’ It speaks to the power of collaboration. WHO says one in four people today will live with mental health conditions. We say it’s four out of four, because if it isn’t you, it’s somebody you love, somebody in your family, or somebody in your community. Everybody today is impacted by this mental health epidemic.”
A unique feature of the NYC Race of Hope is its Student Ambassador program, which shines a light on the urgent issue of teen depression and suicide. This year Leslie Hernandez, a Junior at Newtown High School in Queens, and Sienna Vadi, a Junior at Trevor High School in Manhattan, were Co-Lead Student Ambassadors, heading a group of representatives from diverse schools such as Berkeley Carroll, SUNY Brockport, Chapin School, Dalton, Fieldston, Greenwich Country Day, Newtown High School, and Trevor Day.
The Race of Hope is a 5K (3.1 mile) U.S. Track and Field-certified race. At the starting gun, Gruss and Cole cheered on participants, all sporting HDRF’s signature sunshine yellow color with matching caps and t-shirts, as they took off on the beautiful 5K (3.1-mile) course starting at The Davis Center through the scenic and tranquil northern paths of Central Park.
Some participants ran competitively, while others walked or strolled with friends. No matter their speed or age, all the racers united in a common purpose, to support research into new treatments for depression and to fight the stigma still associated with seeking help.
The NYC Race of Hope is part of an annual series that includes a summer Race of Hope in Southampton set to take place on August 2, 2026, and a winter Race in Palm Beach set to take place on February 13, 2027.
At the close of the Race, Audrey Gruss presented awards to the top finishers. First prize for Top Male Finisher went to Alexander Garrot (18:24.74), and first prize for the Top Female Finisher went to Adrienne Bilello (20:10.66), who also came in third place overall.
Second placefor Top Male Finisher went to Alex Harris (19:38.93) and second placefor the Top Female Finisher went to Liz Magno (22:05.43), third place for Top Male Finisher went to Owen Husselbeck (21:10.41), andthird place for the Top Female Finisher went to Harlow Talley (24:10.58).
The Top Individual and Team Fundraiser went to Riley Mountford, who raised $2,525 individually and $2,700 through team fundraising. The Largest Team award went to Gracie Square Hospital, who offers care for patients with psychiatric disorders who can benefit from inpatient hospitalization.
All Race participants received a commemorative T-shirt, race hat, race bib and huge finisher medal. The first, second, and third place winners received medals based on the winnings.
5K Race of Hope Sponsor
Gracie Square Hospital, J.P. Morgan, and LOVE Binetti.
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.
