TEAM ELEPHANT RUNS THE 2025 TCS SYDNEY MARATHON
On August 22nd, six dedicated Team Elephant runners hopped into action and embraced their inner kangaroo at the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon, in its first year of being an Abbott World Marathon Major, all in support of Wild Tomorrow’s mission to protect and restore habitats for endangered species! Learn more about the team and what inspired them to run for wildlife in our latest blog below.
The Sydney team came together from around the world, meeting in person at Bondi Beach together with two of our Ambassadors in Australia!
We are incredibly proud and grateful for our first Sydney Team Elephant, and their passion for conservation! It was a proud moment for Wild Tomorrow as it was our first year as an official TCS Sydney Marathon charity partner, expanding our “Team Elephant” marathon program from New York City to Australia (and beyond)!
Wild Tomorrow’s inaugral Sydney Team Elephant came together from across the US —Harvest from Pennsylvania, Becca from New Jersey, Declan from Idaho, Ariel from Florida and Adrian & Harry from Texas! Each team member raised a minimum of $4,000 to help protect wildlife. Together, the grand total raised by this mighty team was an amazing $22,468 to support the protection and restoration of vital habitats for African elephants—an outstanding achievement!
The team took on the 26.1-mile journey through the beautiful city of Sydney, across the Sydney Harbor Bridge, finishing with a breathtaking view of the Sydney Opera House—a perfect motivation for that final push!
A breath-taking finish line! Photo credit: TCS Sydney Marathon
Their Reasons for Running
The stories behind why our runners joined Team Elephant are as inspiring as their marathon journey.
Harvest Gill is an undergraduate studying geology, inspired by her fascination with rocks and their role in the environment. Her love for wildlife grew from travels around the world and books by Jane Goodall. Harvest explained, “By supporting Wild Tomorrow and keeping its mission in mind as I run, I can express a deeper understanding of life and the interconnectedness of all species through motion.”
Becca enjoying Bondi and her team t-shirt!
Becca Bednarz, an avid runner and lifelong animal lover, fell in awe of elephants during a trip to South Africa. Witnessing their strength and grace deepened her commitment to wildlife conservation. Becca shared, “I want to run to ensure ALL of our planet’s inhabitants are protected.”
Declan Tomlinson served as a Peace Corps Volunteer living in rural Fiji. The threat of climate change was visible as he ran around his village, a deeply impactful experience that made him realize how important and diverse the environment is, and the irreplaceable value of biodiversity. Declan was very excited to run to protect nature and the diverse species that call our planet home. He explained, “Running for Wild Tomorrow connects my love for running with my passion for sustaining communities and wildlife, including elephants, around the world.”
Ariel Sofio’s love for elephants began in fourth grade after a research project earned her the nickname “Trunky.” Ariel says, “These majestic animals, along with all wildlife, deserve protection and support to live their beautiful, wild lives.”
Adrian Portales’s was our only runner living in Sydney! He is currently an exchange student studying quantum engineering at the University of New South Wales. He is also from the US and spent his youth living in Southern Texas, where he said he was shaped by nature, from creeks and mesquite trees to the Gulf Coast breeze. But he has felt the effects of climate change and pollution in his back yard from the light pollution from a neighboring football stadium that has paled the stars, to land being cleared to make space for a car dealership or apartment complex. He shared, “This is why I fight for conservation—not just for the landscapes of my childhood, but for the wildlife that depends on them.”
Declan and Harvest running triumphantly for elephants!
Congratulations to our amazing TCS Sydney Marathon Finishers!
We send special thanks to our Ambassadors ‘Down Under’ — Hayley Hyams who is a Wild Tomorrow conservation volunteer, and local Aussie and Bondi-resident, Viisti Dickens, who was part of our very first endurance event for Wild Tomorrow, the Hamptons Triathlon back in 2017 (Team Zebra)!
Click here to learn more about Team Elephant races around the world!
We hope you will be similarly inspired to join our team in a half or full marathon challenge, dedicated to the protection of threatened and endangered species and the habitats they call home 💙