Main fundraiser photo

Cleaning Calgary For Kids: A 30 Day City Challenge

In August of last year, I acquired a pretty unique hobby: Picking up litter.

How It All Started 

I was looking for a job and wasn’t having much luck. Rather than stressing myself out continuing to look for a job or playing video games to avoid thinking about it, I decided to do something proactive. There was an area near my house that always had a huge pile of trash along the entire fence line. So I bought some gloves, some bags, and spent about four hours cleaning it all up. I took some before and after photos and posted them on social media to spread a little kindness and stay positive about my own situation. I couldn’t believe what happened next.

The city loved the pictures and the work I had done and the very next day, I got a call from a company saying I got the job. I felt like it was good karma, the world telling me to keep going. Plus, it was quite fun! So I cleaned up a few more areas suggested by commenters and posted those photos on social media as well. One of the commenters suggested I clean up the riverside by our city’s Peace Bridge. So on Saturday, August 26, 2023, I spent six hours cleaning up litter near the Peace Bridge. That afternoon, when I posted those before and after photos to our city’s subreddit r/Calgary, I didn’t realize it yet, but I had just started a huge adventure.

The 30-Day Challenge!

A man reached out to me and asked if he could help me clean up near the Peace Bridge. The next day, we met up and spent six hours cleaning the area together. I had such an amazing experience just talking and helping each other out that I thought to myself, “If one day of cleaning up the city inspired one person to help, what would 30 days in a row do?”

So, every day for 30 days, I cleaned up litter in a different area in our city, guided by commenters, and posted the photos of what I did each day on social media. About a week in, people really started to take notice. People in the city were reaching out to me across social media, offering me supplies, gloves, extra garbage bags, and even money. After accepting a few donations and seeing no sign of them stopping, I decided this could be my opportunity to achieve a lifelong dream I’ve had since I was a young child.

Why I Chose to Raise Money for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation

When I was a toddler in Nova Scotia, I was diagnosed with ITP, a rare blood disorder. The doctors at the IWK Children’s Hospital in Nova Scotia saved my life, so it has always been a dream of mine to give back in some way. Nova Scotia is where I was born, but Calgary is my home. Calgary has never failed me. We came here for opportunities, and throughout thick and thin, we have always found them. I want to see Calgary thrive and prosper, and so I thought any money raised should go to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, to help nurture a bright future for the next generation of Calgarians. When we’re gone, it’ll be their job to take care of our city.

After the 30-Day Challenge

After day 30, throughout the rest of the year I let the city guide me on what I would do next. I started working with various outreach groups helping the homeless, did various litter picking right into the new year, and each week since September, I’ve been volunteering with Keep The Earth Fresh (KTEF), a nonprofit that cleans up litter in communities all over Calgary every Saturday. I had never kept track of how much litter I was picking up, but KTEF did and tracked a lot of other data as well. I was curious: Just how much of an impact could I make? So when 2024 began, I decided to start my biggest challenge yet!

Cleaning Up Calgary! The Year-Long Challenge!

I decided I would keep track of three things: the number of days, the weight of litter I picked up, and the number of communities I visited. To this day over 6 months into this challenge, I have cleaned up over 5000+ pounds of litter, across 60+ communities, throughout 80+ days this year. Throughout the year, I’ve shown people what one person can accomplish and through the amazing groups I’ve worked with, shown what WE can accomplish when we come together. So now let’s ALL do what we can to help.

Why Your Support Matters

By supporting this initiative, you help foster a brighter future for our city and the next generation of Calgarians who need it most. If you support what I’ve been doing for our city the past year, then please consider donating. Your donations will support the Alberta Children’s Hospital, providing critical care and resources to children and their families during their most challenging times.

Thank you for your support and for helping to create a brighter future for Calgarians.
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $20
    • 1 mo
  • Christopher Dekker
    • $50
    • 1 mo
  • Anonymous
    • $15
    • 1 mo
  • Dhruvaa Ramesh
    • $20
    • 1 mo
  • Anonymous
    • $50
    • 1 mo
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Organizer

Matthew Edwards
Organizer
Calgary, AB
ALBERTA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
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