On Sunday September 21st, 18 dedicated Team Elephant runners took on the BMW Berlin Marathon, one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Together the team raised and incredible $43,080 for wildlife conservation, to protect and restore habitats for endangered species! Learn more about the team and their passion for wildlife in our latest blog below.

*A pre-marathon meetup at the Berlin Zoo*

We were blown away by our Team Elephant runners’ physical and fundraising feats and are über-grateful for their efforts and their passion for conservation!

Each runner committed to raising a minimum $2,500 each, raising an impressive team total of $43,080 to support the protection and restoration of vital habitats for African elephants, and all species who share their wild spaces!

The BMW Berlin Marathon 26.1-mile course races through the heart of one of the world’s most historic cities! Runners passed the Reichstag—Berlin’s iconic parliament building—and soaked in the grandeur of the Berliner Dom and finally thundered through the Brandenburg Gate to the finish – what a way to finish!

Congratulations and “danke schön” to Carolyn Jander, Maximilian Oldham, John McFadden, Sierra Gamelgaard, Sophie Wilson, Nicholas Sharma, Karimi Nyamu, Tessa Rough, Sarah Ellingwood, Venkatesh Sivapur, John Edwards, Mary Brown, Nancy Greeson, Gareth Thomas, Lauren Pope, Sheldon Sucre, Julia Keller, Lynne Froling and Eliana Hall.

We are so proud and grateful for our mighty 2025 team of Berlin marathon runners

Their Reason to Run for Wildlife

Berlin’s Team Elephant runners are truly inspiring. From traveling across Asia, Europe, and Australia, to their deep love for elephants and wildlife, this team brought together an extraordinary group of conservationists including a veterinary student who has experienced zoos around the world, and an environmental scientist dedicated to protecting endangered species. We were thrilled to have them represent Team Elephant as ambassadors for our mission to protect and restore wildlife and wild spaces.

Each runner’s reasons to run for Team Elephant were uniquely moving. Their race was not only an individual challenge, but dedicated to a goal bigger than themselves — the safeguarding of threatened and endangered species in South Africa. We are incredibly proud to call these runners part of Team Elephant.

As Sierra highlighted, “Participating in this marathon was a way for me to bring together two things I deeply care about: animals and running. I’ve always loved running—it’s my way of finding clarity, pushing my limits, and feeling connected to the world around me. But this time, my miles meant even more by supporting a cause close to my heart. As someone who’s always felt a deep connection to animals, this feels like the perfect opportunity to make an impact. Each mile I logged in training and on race day represents a step toward a better future for wildlife!”

Tessa, an environmental scientist, who works to protect endangered species as part of her job. To reach her fundraising goal, she donated her birthday and holidays by suggesting a donation to Wild Tomorrow instead — a gift to nature!

Two of our runners, Eliana and Sarah, leveraged their hobbies and creatives talents to help them hit their fundraising goals. Sarah did it in the most adorable way, crocheting hats for her friends’ and family’s furry companions. We can’t get enough of her pup rocking a tiny lion hat! Meanwhile, Eliana combined her love of baking with a lemonade stand and bake sale—a truly sweet way to support her favorite animals, elephants.

Applications are now open for our BMW BERLIN 2026 Marathon team!

APPLY NOW FOR 2026

If you’re inspired by Team Elephant, Berlin, click here to learn more about Team Elephant and discover how you can contribute to protecting wildlife by running, cycling or joining us for a volunteer trip in South Africa (or both!)

TEAM ELEPHANT CRUSHES THE 2025 BMW BERLIN MARATHON

Their Reason to Run for Wildlife