Race of Hope 5K to Defeat Depression Expands to New Central Park Location
Sunday, May 10, 2026
The Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) is pleased to announce that legendary American designer and founder of Kenneth Cole Productions and The Mental Health Coalition, Kenneth Cole, will be the Celebrity Grand Marshal for the fourth anniversary of its annual NYC Race of Hope to Defeat Depression 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, May 10, 2026. This year’s Race, formerly known as the NYC Teen Race of Hope, is expanding to welcome participants of all ages to reflect that depression affects everyone regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or socioeconomic level. The Race will take place at a new location: The Davis Center in Central Park at 106-51 East Drive NY, NY 10026 (entrance at 110th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard).
The state of mental health in the United States is urgent. Over the past decade, depression and anxiety have risen sharply across all age groups. Suicide has become one of the leading causes of death for young people in this country. Overdose deaths, still at staggering levels, are often the result of untreated PTSD and depression.
HDRF launched Race of Hope NYC to raise awareness and spark conversation in our diverse communities. This year, the Race is featured on Mother’s Day since HDRF was launched by founder Audrey Gruss in memory of her late mother Hope’s decades-long battle with depression. In honor of the day, mothers will race for free at the May 10 event.
“We’ve come a long way from the days when depression was seen only as a personal failure or a shameful secret,” said Gruss. “But stigma hasn’t disappeared. Our Race inspires individuals and families to know the facts and not be afraid to seek treatment.”
Kenneth Cole is an American designer and social activist. His company, Kenneth Cole Productions, creates modern footwear, clothing, and accessories that are distributed worldwide. For over 40 years, Kenneth has leveraged his passion and unique brand platform to make a meaningful impact on people’s wardrobes and in their communities. During the COVID-19 crisis, Kenneth refocused his energy and resources on an even larger, more debilitating global pandemic: mental illness and its related stigma. He is the founder of The Mental Health Coalition, a collective of the nation’s largest, most influential, and diverse mental health organizations. The Coalition’s 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. Kenneth’s commitment to public health initiatives goes back decades. For over 30 years, Kenneth Cole has been a leading voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He served as chairman of amfAR for 14 years, helping drive major advances in research and treatments, while helping to destigmatize the disease. Since 2016, he has also served as a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, working to help end the global crisis.
“It’s an honor to walk the walk – especially when it’s one that matters. I am proud to serve as Grand Marshal for the NYC Race of Hope and to support the vital work of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation,” said Kenneth Cole. “Through my work with the Mental Health Coalition, I’ve seen firsthand the power of collaboration in breaking stigma and expanding access to care. Organizations like Hope for Depression are leading the way in advancing research and driving meaningful progress.”
The New York Race of Hope is the newest in a series that includes a summer Race of Hope in Southampton and a winter Race in Palm Beach. The Races have grown to over 1,000 participants each and have raised over $8 million since 2015 to support groundbreaking depression research. As a positive sign of growing awareness, the NYC Race sold out two weeks before race day.
A unique feature of the NYC Race is its Teen Ambassador program, a diverse group of students from high schools throughout the city who work alongside HDRF to increase the impact of the event. Teens have been especially hard hit by the mental health crisis: more than one in three high school students say they experience persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness, a 40% increase since 2009. The NYC Teen Ambassadors sign up sponsors and participants from their communities.
“Behind each of these statistics is a person who felt they had nowhere to turn, or who tried to reach out and found that treatment was ineffective or unavailable,” said Gruss. “I founded HDRF to change the conversation around depression and drive science forward to better treatments and prevention.”
The NYC Race course is brand new this year: a beautiful 5K (3.1) mile route through the scenic and tranquil northern paths of Central Park. Some choose to run this event competitively, while others opt to walk or stroll with their friends. Participants include professional and first-time runners, teens, school teams, families, and children. Although the race is now sold out, spectators are welcome and encouraged to enjoy the Race’s signature “sea of yellow”, a positive and impactful start to Mother’s Day. To learn more, please visit https://nyc.raceofhopeseries.com/.
The first 300 registrants receive a commemorative t-shirt and race hat. All participants receive a race bib and huge finisher medal. Medals are awarded for best time in different age categories as well as for the top individual fundraiser and top fundraising team.
Race Information:
- Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026
- Meeting Point: Central Park, Davis Center 106-51 East Drive NY, NY 10026 (110th street and Malcolm X Boulevard)
- Time: Race starts at 8:00 AM ET
- Strollers welcome, but no dogs
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.
