Hope for Depression Research Foundation Raises $900,000 For Sixth Anniversary of Palm Beach Race of Hope
The Race Of Hope Draws Over 900 Participants to Bradley Park to Raise Mental Health Awareness
Scott Snyder and Audrey Gruss at the Start Line
Photo By: Caryn Leigh
On Saturday, February 17th, 2024, the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) celebrated the Sixth Anniversary of its Race of Hope 5K Walk & Run to Defeat Depression in Palm Beach at Bradley Park. The event gathered 900 people on Saturday morning in Palm Beach to support mental health awareness and urgent research into depression and anxiety.
The festive event raised a new record of $900,000 for HDRF’s advanced life-saving mental health research into new treatments for clinical depression. The presenting sponsor for the event was Findlay Galleries.
HDRF Founding Chair Audrey Gruss and Board member Scott Snyder served as the Co-Grand Marshals of the 5K walk/run, which started at 8 AM at Bradley Park in Palm Beach.
“We are thrilled to see so many people come out in support of mental health research,” said Gruss. “I am constantly in awe of our Palm Beach community and their unwavering support for HDRF’s mission to defeat depression.”
She added, “One hundred percent, every penny from today’s race will go directly to life-saving depression research.”
At the starting gun, participants set off to complete the 3.1-mile course starting at Bradley Park, as they took in the beautiful views of the Palm Beach Lake Trail.
Lining up in the start corrals were professional runners, walkers, families with children and dogs, and teams from local businesses such as Livingston Builders, Le Bilboquet, Environment Design Group, Psychiatry of the Palm Beaches, Pure Skin Palm Beach, GEO Group and Marble of the World.
All race participants wore hats, shirts and jackets 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 presented Awards to the top finishers and to the top fundraisers. The top Overall Male winner was Sean Clark, and the top Overall Female winner was Niki Desjardin. The Award for Top Fundraising Team went to Team Will, which raised nearly $15,000. The Award for Top Individual Fundraiser from the PB Race of Hope Committee went to Mona Nasser, who raised nearly $6,000. The Award for the Top Captain of the Largest Team went to Team Run for Chey with 39 members.
Committee Race participants included: Alina De Almeida & John Paulson, Louisa Benton, Kim S. Fennebresque, Jamee & Peter Gregory, Martin Gruss, Charles & Kaaren Hale, Yaz & Valentín Hernández, Travis Howe & Mario Nievera, Eleanora Kennedy, Melanie & Roger Lawson, Simone Levinson, Kamie Lightburn, Carole Moran, Teresa & James Remez, Joanna Roland, Jill & Matt Schecter, Scott Snyder, Ginny & David Sydorick, Nicholas Varney, and Nancy Yanofsky & Ed Brown.
Junior Committee participants included: Zoë Bullock Cacioppo, Nathan Coe, David-William Coffin, Sarah Cooke, Amanda & Tony Cummings, Samantha Curry, Jennifer Gowdy, Katherine Lande & Kevin Condon, Stacey Leuliette and David-William Coffin, Bryan Ludwig, Elizabeth and Homer Marshman III, Devon McCready, Nick Mele, Mona Nasser, Matt Oleszczuk, Hollis Bradley Pica, Jack Rooney, Kirsten Smith, Ivy Sophir, Jane Stevens, Alanna Sutherland, Eric Viner, Grace & Tally Walker, and Sarah & Andrew Wetenhall.
You can see the Race of Hope in the news and view wonderful photos of the day by following the links below:
Palm Beach Daily News Photo Gallery
You can view all of the finisher times by clicking here.
Thank you again to ALL our event donors, participants, and volunteers. Your commitment to HDRF’s critical research mission is making a world of difference.
