(SOUL)CYCLE TO SAVE THE WILD

A group of wildlife-loving New Yorkers rode together on Friday evening, May 31st, at SoulCycle’s Union Square studio, sweating it out to save wildlife and wild places. Altogether the team raised an incredible $7,781.54 in support of our work! Read more in our story, and check out the event gallery below.

A post-ride sweaty team shot at SoulCycle Union Square.

The evening was led by zebra-loving SoulCycle-superstar, Stevie Santangelo, a fellow wildlife lover who took her first trip to Africa in January 2017 and said “IT WAS GLORIOUS”! Stevie filled the room with her full-strength energy and motivating words, guiding riders all the way to the finish line.

Stevie Santangelo leading the class furiously!

The room rode and danced in their seats in support of rangers, rhino protection, elephant protection and habitat loss. Half of the total funds raised was thanks to online campaigns by riders, who increased their personal impact by appealing to friends and family to support their ride and our mission.

Rikus Lombard and Jessica Rikus, conservation couple and Wild Tomorrow Fund ambassadors who earned their spots as Top Fundraiser and won a special prize!

This year, we offered a special prize to the top fundraisers of the night, who (unsurprisingly!) was couple Jessica Masters and Rikus Lombard. They are an amazing conservation couple who led the pack again this year for our SoulCycle event. They got married in South Africa last year, surrounded by the African bush that they love, and was the background for their budding relationship. Their desire to conserve and protect African wildlife and habitats shines through both of them as couple. We are so proud that they are Wild Tomorrow Fund Ambassadors.

New York City photographer and Wild Tomorrow Fund Ambassador Charles Chessler, fresh from the field as a Wild Volunteer this April, was on site to volunteer again, taking photos of the moment, and capturing the energy and smiling faces of the group.

Thank you to all of the riders, and those who donated in support of their efforts! A big thanks to Stevie and SoulCycle for hosting us again, and to Charles Chessler for volunteering his time and talent to photograph the evening.

If you find yourself in one of the awesome photos below, please share on social media and tag @wildtomorrowfund and @charleschesslerphotography!