Sometimes making a big difference originates from small decisions to help and from simple yet original ideas.

Michelle G. is a 14-year-old student at St. Samille French Middle High School in Mississauga, Ontario. When her mother joined the Spring Sprint committee for Toronto’s event, Michelle ended up attending a meeting by chance. She was inspired but wasn’t sure what she could do to help until an idea struck her that she knew would be easy and appealing to her fellow students.

Along with help from her friend Sabrina, Michelle approached her school principal with the idea for a “dress-down” day. At their school, conservative uniforms are mandatory but sometimes unpopular. In what would become the most successful fundraiser in the history of the school, each student could wear what they wanted for a day at the price of only a two-dollar donation.

Over 850 kids participated and a total of $1,200 was raised to support the Toronto Spring Sprint. Students also learned about brain tumours through announcements and posters. Rolling up all the coins for the bank alone took Michelle’s team over three hours!

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada appreciated the huge difference the school fundraiser made, and it was also an educational experience for Michelle.

“It was really worth it in the end,” she explained. “It is good to start learning how young people can make a difference now.”