Gabriel McPhee is at it again; growing his hair and having it cut to make a wig for a kid he doesn’t know who has lost his or her hair to cancer. This time his younger brother, Morgan, a Grade 1 student, has joined him.

Gabriel is proof positive that the ripple effect works. A year and a half ago, I did a column and TV feature on Gabriel who, when he was in Kindergarten, had been inspired to start growing his hair by his friend, Callum Gemma’s mother, Barb.

When I showed Gabriel’s video to a Grade 4/5 class in Chemainus, they were so inspired; they raised $11,800 for Cops for Cancer.

So Gabriel has had experience being a leader but getting his brother to join in was a bit of a task, he told me. Morgan agreed. One day, he’d say “yes” and the next day, he’d change his mind, Morgan told me but eventually he agreed to join Gabriel because he really did want to help another child, one who had lost his hair to cancer.

As always happens, the more you do for others, the more you get back in return. Gabriel and Morgan’s dad, Stephen, talked about what the boys had gained from this experience. His eyes got a little moist as he talked about his boys.

First, he says they learned what it is like to be different; to have people base their opinion of you on your long hair; on your looks alone.

They also learned how to deal with that kind of discrimination; how to be strong, proud and independent.

Stephen also thinks this experience has given the boys purpose in their lives; a passion for community service and a social spirit. Both of them, he says, talk about this being the beginning, not the end.

Speaking as a parent, Stephen would like to encourage other parents to try their best not to shoot down their children’s dreams. Parents, he says, often try to be the reality check person, the person who points out why something won’t work. Instead, he says, he would like to see all kids being encouraged to shoot for their dreams; to give it a try and as they do, know their parents will be there to help them up if they fail.

These are just few thoughts worthy of consideration from one Hidden Hero to another. That second hero would be you,you parent.