One of the key messages in the school-based Hidden Heroes Education Project is that small things can make a big difference usually through what we call the "ripple effect". We saw a perfect example of the ripple effect last Monday at Chemainus Elementary Community School.

Last year at this time, I wrote about Garbriel McPhee. Gabriel is now in Grade 2 but he became a powerful Hidden Hero during the time he was in Kindergarten and Grade 1. The person that inspired him to become a Hidden Hero was his friend Callum Gemma's mom, Barb.

Barb had been at an event where a number of people shaved their heads and donated their hair to cancer to make wigs. She was so moved that some time later, she decided to cut her hair and donate it. Next she started fundraising for Cancer's Run for the Cure and that's when Gabriel came into the picture.

Just five years old, he decided to open a lemonade stand and donate his profits to Mrs. Gemma. He raised $18. Next a young girl he knew from the Interior cut her long hair and donated it to cancer.

With these two examples in mind, Gabriel decided he would grow his hair and donate it; however, being a very shy kid at the time - I don't think he's so shy any more - he wouldn't tell anyone what he was doing. As a result he put up with a whole lot of teasing until he learned that donating his hair wasn't enough. Someone had to be paid to make the wig.

Given this information, he decided to start fundraising and of course he had to tell everyone why he was growing his hair if he wanted them to donate money to his cause. Immediately the teasing stopped and everyone pitched in to help.

After the column appeared, I also produced a video at Shaw TV telling Gabriel's story.

Last month, a year after I first told Gabriel's story, I had the opportunity to talk to Grade 4/5 students at Chemainus Elementary Community School about the Hidden Heroes Education Project. I read them the column about Gabriel and showed them the video.

A week later I heard that 18 kids, inspired by Gabriel, had decided to find some way to help fight cancer. The ripple effect was working.

Last Monday Barb Gemma, the woman that inspired Gabriel, was at it again. She and her son, Callum, both had their heads shaved for the second time and eleven Hammond Bay students and two parents joined them.

Later in the day Barb, Callum, Lauren Rogers, one of the Hammond Bay students, her mom, Gabriel, his four year old brother, Morgan, and his mom all trooped down to Chemainus to tell their story to the Grade 4/5 class.

When the kids saw Gabriel in person and the woman that inspired him as well as the other kids he had inspired, they couldn't stop asking questions about their experience and how they felt knowing they would be helping people they would never even meet. The questions were impressively deep and the answers equally impressive and inspirational.

In the end eight Chemainus students committed to cutting their hair for cancer and also working on a pledge drive to raise money to have wigs made. Nine others made a similar commitment but also decided to organize a bake sale as an additional fundraiser. Four others committed to helping with fundraising and two committed to organization a bake sale.One of them wants to give the money he raises to Cops for Cancer.

In other words 100% of the students attending that day committed to doing something to help raise money and awareness for cancer, all because one young boy made a similar commitment two years ago.

The ripple effect really works. So does the Hidden Heroes Education Project.