Race of Hope: In Stride

There are few things that can pull over a thousand Palm Beachers out of bed at dawn, but a good cause is always one of them. On a Valentine’s Day morning, usually reserved for roses and slow breakfasts, the community chose instead to lace up sneakers and stand together for something bigger than themselves. 

Bradley Park turned into a sea of sunshine as approximately 1,200 runners and walkers gathered for the 8th Annual Race of Hope to Defeat Depression, benefitting the Hope for Depression Research Foundation. By the time the last participant crossed the finish line, more than $1.2 million had been raised for cutting-edge mental health research, the largest total in the event’s history.

The race started at 8 a.m., beneath blue skies and swaying palms, where serious runners stood shoulder to shoulder with casual walkers. Families arrived with strollers and dogs in tow. Local businesses showed up in force, from The Colony Hotel, Lilly Pulitzer, and Le Bilboquet to Hamilton Jewelers and the Palm Beach Day Academy. Teams formed by real estate groups, restaurants, health clinics, and design firms lined up together, all dressed in HDRF’s signature yellow, creating a bright ribbon of hope along the Lake Trail. It was against this postcard-perfect backdrop that the town showed up in every sense of the word, for one another and for a cause that touches so many families across the country and the world. 

Founded by Palm Beach resident Audrey Gruss in memory of her mother, Hope for Depression Research Foundation has become a leader in advancing new treatments for depression and anxiety, two of the most urgent public health challenges of our time. Gruss, who served as Co-Grand Marshal alongside Scott Snyder, addressed the crowd after the race, thanking participants for helping move the science forward while continuing to chip away at stigma.

People of all ages and abilities walked and ran the 3.1-mile course together, some competing for personal bests, others simply there to show their support or in someone’s name. Duniel Viera was the first to cross the finish line overall, while Niki Desjardin claimed the top female spot, each greeted with cheers from the crowd lining the route. Top fundraisers and fastest runners were celebrated, but so too were the largest teams and the collective effort that made the morning possible.

By the time the course cleared, it was obvious that the morning had been about far more than a finish line. It was about neighbors showing up for neighbors, about a community choosing to come together and make a difference. In every high-five, every shared mile, every team photo taken in bright yellow, there was heart and commitment. The Race of Hope has become a reflection of Palm Beach at its best, standing together and turning hope into something tangible and shared.