Matilda’s legacy in action: Pudsey litter pick to clean up her beloved parks

On Sunday, 27th October, Matilda’s family, friends, and community members will gather in Pudsey Park, united by grief but inspired by her powerful legacy. A legacy built not of grand gestures, but of small, meaningful acts – like picking up litter in her local park, one bag at a time, to help create a world she believed could be better.

Matilda was no ordinary child.

She saw the world with a heart full of compassion, and with her litter picker in hand, she quietly and humbly tried to make it better. She didn’t just care about her community; she loved it. She loved the parks, the trees, the wildlife, and the joy of seeing the clean spaces she helped create.

Her daddy, Steve Pritchard, remembers those tender moments as some of the most cherished memories of his life.

“I used to walk with her,” Steve says. “Just the two of us, out in the parks, picking up litter. It wasn’t just about cleaning up; it was about the time we spent together, her smile when she saw a clear space after our work, the joy she found in simply caring for the world. I wish I could have one more day like that with her, to hear her laugh and see the pride in her eyes when she knew she had made a difference.”

But on 3rd April, that laughter was silenced when Matilda passed away in her sleep from a rare and undiagnosed heart condition, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which affects 1 in 1,000 people. Matilda had shown no symptoms, and the shock of losing her so suddenly left her family, friends, and the community reeling.

How could the world lose someone so young, so full of life, so committed to making the world a better place?

Amid the overwhelming grief, her parents, Steve and Anna, found solace in continuing Matilda’s work – a mission to fulfil her dream of a world without litter.

In the weeks following her death, they launched a fundraising campaign, hoping to raise £11,213 – a figure that honoured her birthday on 11th February 2013. It was a tribute to the 11 beautiful years Matilda had shared with them, years filled with laughter, kindness, and her deep love for the world around her.

What they didn’t expect was the tidal wave of support. In just two weeks, they surpassed their initial goal as family, friends, and even strangers came forward to show their love and support for Matilda’s dream.

Now, they have set their sights even higher – aiming to raise £42,000, representing the five years Matilda would have spent in secondary school, to support the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.

Steve reflects on what this means to him:

“Matilda’s dream wasn’t just for herself; it was for all of us. She used to say, ‘Daddy, I dream of a world without litter.’ And now, it’s up to us to make that dream come true. Every piece of litter we pick up, every child who learns to care for their environment because of her story – that’s Matilda’s legacy. That’s her making a difference, even though she’s no longer here.”

On Sunday, 27th October, at 10am, the community will gather for a special litter pick in Pudsey Park, starting at the main entrance closest to the bus station (what3words ///flute.drew.solo).

Organised by Steve and Anna in partnership with the Litter Free Pudsey group, the event is open to all – regular litter pickers, friends, family, and anyone touched by Matilda’s story. It’s not just about picking up litter; it’s about keeping her spirit alive, making sure her dream doesn’t fade away with time.

“Matilda cared so deeply,” Steve says. “She couldn’t bear to see rubbish in the places she loved. She believed that even small acts, like picking up litter, could change the world. And she was right. She showed us that one person can make a difference.”

Matilda’s family has already secured the funding for one year of the Eco-Schools programme through Keep Britain Tidy, which will educate and inspire children to care for their environment – just as Matilda did. But the goal is to raise enough to support this programme for five years, ensuring that Matilda’s dream of a litter-free world will live on in the hearts and actions of children for years to come.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, shared her deep gratitude for the Pritchard family:

“Matilda dreamed of a world without rubbish, and her dream is one we share. Her passion for keeping her local parks clean is a powerful reminder that even the smallest of us can make the biggest difference. The world would be a better place if we all saw it through Matilda’s eyes.”

For Steve, Anna, and their daughter Olivia, this journey of grief is one they never imagined they would have to take. But they are not walking it alone. Their community is behind them, inspired by the light that Matilda brought into the world.

And on 27th October, when bags of litter are filled, and Pudsey Park shines a little brighter, her spirit will be there – in every smile, every shared story, every person who came out to help make her dream a reality.

To support Matilda’s legacy and her family’s fundraising efforts, please visit matildaslegacy.com or come along on Sunday.

How You Can Help - The Link

While the litter pick is a powerful way to honour Matilda’s memory, the family’s fundraising efforts are equally crucial in keeping her dream alive. The goal is to raise £42,000 to support Keep Britain Tidy and their Eco-Schools programme, which will empower children to continue Matilda’s mission of creating a cleaner world.