Sailor Brinkley Cook and Jack Brinkley Cook Lead 4th Annual Race of Hope to Defeat Depression

Sailor Brinkley Cook and Jack Brinkley Cook ​led more than 750 Participants at the fourth annual Race of Hope to Defeat Depression, helping to raise more than $275,000 for advanced depression research.

More than 750 men, women, and gathered on a sunny Sunday morning in Southampton to take part in Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s (HDRF) fourth annual Race of Hope to Defeat Depression.  

The high-energy crowd set out at 8:30 AM to complete a tree-lined 5K course around Lake Agawam. Race Co-Grand Marshals Sailor Brinkley Cook, Jack Brinkley Cook, HDRF Founder Audrey Gruss, and Board member Arthur Dunnam led the way. The USA Track and Field-sanctioned race raised more than $275,000 for advanced depression research, setting a new record for the event.  

peaking from the steps of the Southampton Cultural Center just before the starting gun, HDRF Founder and Chair Audrey Gruss said, “In the United States, depression is the leading cause of suicide, and affects more than 18-million adults each year. Among teens, depression and suicide rates are the highest on record. We are working to turn the tide on depression and suicide in this country, but we can’t do it without your help, so thank you all for coming out to support the cause today.”

Hope was in abundant supply as everybody sported caps and tech shirts in HDRF’s signature sunshine yellow. The competitive runners, joined by Sailor Brinkley Cook and Jack Brinkley Cook, burst through the starting line, followed by first-time runners, walkers, corporate teams, families, children, and plenty of canine friends. 

Following the race, Audrey Gruss and her team presented medals for best times in various age categories. Dan Gargaro won the best time in the Adult Male category, and Tara Farrell won the best time in the Adult Female category. Griffin Schwartz, age 13, won for best youth male (13-15), and Lily Kurmanick, age 13, won for best youth female (13-15). Gruss then presented Arthur Dunnam with an award for Top Fundraising Team, and Scott Snyder with an award for Top Individual Fundraiser. Kim Heirston received the runner up award, and a notable mention highlighting that $10,000 of the funds she had raised had been donated by Oprah Winfrey. 

All race participants received a shirt, finisher medal, reflective race hat and a long-sleeve 1/4 zip pullover.  The first, second, and third place winners received cash prizes of up to $500. Successful fundraisers also received prizes for raising upwards of $250 and $1,000. 

This year’s Race of Hope once again was the grand finale of the Week of Hope, a village-wide campaign in Southampton to raise mental health awareness.  The Week was launched on Thursday, July 25, at Ralph Lauren. Two hundred local business owners including Brook’s Brothers, J. Crew, The White Company, the Southampton Arts Center, the Southampton Chamber of Commerce, and Southampton Town Hall“turned yellow” by placing two-foot-wide yellow statement balloons (environmentally safe and re-usable) by their front door to symbolize hope and their commitment to changing the staggering statistics around depression. 

Additional Race participants included: The Watermill Center’s Robert Wilson, Southampton Hospital’s Steve Bernstein, Hilary Geary Ross, Marigay McKee and Bill Ford, Lisa M. Aery, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Martin Gruss, Campion Platt and his children, Samantha Gregory and Roberto Benabib with their daughter, Carolina Gregory-Benabib, Somers Farkas, Janna Bullock, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Carol Mack,Tom and Clelia Zacharias, Susan and Joe Meyer, Serena Bowman, Nona Collinand Karen and Richard LeFrak. 

The Race of Hope was supported by Southampton residents including Jamee and Peter Gregory, Kim Heirston, Leonard and Judy Lauder, Marigay McKee and Bill Ford, Kitty & Bill McKnight III, Thomas C. Quick, Scott Snyder, Lisa M. Aery,Serena Bowman, Sharon Bush, Susan Gutfreund, Yaz and Valentin Hernandez, The Honorable and Mrs. Earle Mack, Margo M. and James L. Nederlander, Robert Nederlander, Hilary Geary Ross, and Clelia and Tom Zacharias. 

The Race of Hope starts the lead-in to HDRF’s 13^thAnnual Luncheon Seminar which will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The event will focus on “Depression and Anxiety; Diagnosis and Latest Treatments,” and will salute the research progress of HDRF’s acclaimed team of world-renowned brain researchers.