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Matilda’s Story

Written by her family 💕

On 5th April 2026 we will be taking part in the Leeds Running Festival participating in either a 5k, 10k or half marathon in memory of Matilda. Taking part are Matilda’s parents, sisters, aunties, uncles, cousins, friends and colleagues.

Matilda sadly passed on 9th November 2025 aged 29 after a short but very courageous battle with cancer. Matilda spent her final days in St Gemma’s Hospice surrounded by her family.

Those fortunate enough to know Matilda understand why a fundraising run in her memory has so many family, friends and colleagues taking part to honour the impact that Matilda had on all of us. The family of Matilda have been overwhelmed with messages from her peers at school/university, friends, colleagues and many current/former students of "Miss Grindley”.

Matilda inspired and encouraged many and drew the very best from them using the simple process of always giving her very best. From her early years at school and through university where Matilda was seen as the "big sister that everyone needed" and into her teaching career creating an environment in her class room that students regarded as "Miss Grindley's safe space". It is a privilege to have Matilda as part of your life with her infectious joy and love for life, learning and travel.

Donations made will be going to St Gemma’s Hospice which is where Matilda spent her final days. Although her stay there was short, it had a massive impact on her quality of life with Matilda mentioning how safe she felt there. St Gemma’s only receive 30% of the required funding from the NHS, the remaining 70% is funded by fundraising so we would love to raise money to help them give the same support they gave to Matilda, to others in the future.

After the run, we will be hosting a charity raffle in Leeds City Centre which we will share more details on soon. Donations from this will go to a different charity which we chose (or you could say Matilda picked for us) and this is RSPCA. Matilda was a massive animal lover, even befriending a squirrel once which ended in her getting a tetanus jab! She was obsessed with her three cats, Sirius Bellatrix and Nova, the latter who she rescued from the local area near her school. Matilda donated monthly to RSPCA so it only seems right to honour her wishes in raising more money for them.

Matilda requested that she be buried in Leeds so she is “visited often and by many”. Very bravely, she also planned details of her funeral such as having pink roses thrown on her coffin. While we all gather in Leeds for the run in Matildas memory we hope these wishes are honoured.