Meet Austin artist Taylor Matchok and discover the original artwork, hidden details, and inspiration behind a limited-edition keepsake celebrating 20 years of Run For The Water.
There's a lot of Run For The Water history packed into one very special bandana.
A closer look at the commemorative bandana, featuring runners, Burundian drummers, and hand-drawn details celebrating 20 years of Run For The Water. See more
To celebrate the race's 20th anniversary, the Gazelle Foundation teamed up with Austin artist Taylor Matchok to create something original: a custom-illustrated bandana that brings together the spirit of Austin, the Foundation's connection to Burundi, and two decades of unforgettable race days.
The result is a wearable keepsake filled with hand-drawn illustrations, familiar faces, and unexpected details. And the closer you look, the more you'll discover.
“People love Run For The Water. It's a personal challenge and a celebration full of heart, purpose, and joy. We wanted to capture that magic and give people something special to remember it by,” said Gazelle Foundation Executive Director Courtney Waldren.
Not Your Average Race Merch
For Taylor, the project was an opportunity to tell a story through art, not simply create another race souvenir.
“The story of Run For The Water has more meaning,” she said. “The ‘why’ is different. It's not just about running fast. There's more to the story than blind competition.”
The challenge? Deciding what deserved a place in the design.
With 20 years of race history, Austin landmarks, Burundian traditions, and the Gazelle Foundation's clean water work to draw from, Taylor had no shortage of inspiration.
“It was a challenge to winnow it down because there was so much there,” she said. “The final composition had to show the spectrum of what it means.”
Before the color came the final artwork! Taylor Matchok’s finished black-and-white illustration, packed with details celebrating 20 years of Run For The Water.
A Personal Connection to the Story
Taylor's connection to Run For The Water goes beyond the artwork.
As a member of Gilbert's Gazelles, she has known Gazelle Foundation co-founder Gilbert Tuhabonye for years. His remarkable resilience, infectious optimism, and enduring love for Burundi helped shape the spirit she wanted to capture.
“Gilbert embodies one of the most relentlessly kind, positive, caring, upbeat people,” she said. “Everyone has trials and tribulations, but he has chosen to be positive despite incredible challenges.”
That spirit is woven throughout Run For The Water, a race that brings Austin together while supporting the Foundation's work to provide lasting access to clean water in Burundi.
For Taylor, capturing that connection was essential.
Drawn by Hand, Down to the Last Detail
Art runs in Taylor's family. Her father made his living drawing maps by hand before digital design transformed the profession, and Taylor had recently returned to her own artistic practice when this project came along.
Her process starts with pencil and paper, sketching individual elements again and again in what she calls her “scratchy, fuzzy style.”
She experiments with the placement of each illustration, building a composition that tells a larger story. Even the lettering is drawn by hand.
She refined the artwork through multiple rounds of feedback, balancing the familiar with the unexpected.
“The mood can tell the story,” she explained.
She wanted the finished piece to feel joyful, thoughtful, and connected to the community that makes Run For The Water so special.
Austin Meets Burundi
The finished design brings two places together through original illustrations celebrating the people, traditions, and purpose behind Run For The Water.
You'll spot familiar Austin landmarks, scenes from Burundi, and playful nods to the race's history. Some details jump right out. Others are tucked into the artwork, waiting to be found. And that's part of the fun.
Taylor's personal favorite? A tiny airplane flying over the Texas Capitol, pulling a Run For The Water banner.
“It says ‘Austin’ without it being too much on the nose,” she said.
We'll leave the rest for you to discover.
Made in Austin. Made to Keep.
Taylor's attention to detail carried through to production.
Working with local printer Austin Screen Printing Co, she adapted the original artwork for a single-ink print on 100% cotton bandanas in turquoise and orange. The finished 21-inch bandana is designed to be worn, used, and kept long after race day.
Taylor wanted it to have what she calls “gravitas and heritage”—something that would feel meaningful years from now.
“Cotton, natural fibers seem to match the piece,” she said. “Even though it lost some tonality using one ink, it will be a keepsake and will wear in beautifully.”
Gilbert Tuhabonye wearing the commemorative Run For The Water bandana during his annual anniversary walk in Austin, October 2026.
It's a fitting way to celebrate a race that has brought people together for 20 years, creating memories in Austin while making a lasting difference in Burundi.
And now, there's a piece of that history to take home.
A special thank-you to Taylor Matchok for sharing her incredible talent with the Gazelle Foundation and bringing 20 years of Run For The Water history to life through this remarkable piece of art. We're so grateful for the creativity, care, and heart she poured into every detail.
Be Part of the 20th Run For The Water!
Join us November 8 to celebrate 20 years of Run For The Water. Whether you're running the 10-Miler or 5K, bringing the kids, or volunteering to help make race day happen, there's a place for you in this R4TW tradition.
