PictureThe Inside Ride at GCI!
                 Yesterday, a meaningful event called the Inside Ride came to my school, GCI. What is the Inside Ride? It is a fundraiser to make a difference to children with cancer! There are teams consisting of six people, where each of them are responsible for getting pledges and during the actual event, each of the team members ride on a stationary bike for ten minutes each.  At the end of the two-hour event, there were medals awarded for the farthest distance rode, best team spirit and best costumes.

                 Although I wasn't actually part of the event, I still attended the event to cheer on for my friends and classmates! The Inside Ride was held on the second floor, but the event was so insane that noises could heard from the first and third floor! That is when I decided to see what's happening at the last hour of the event.  As I stepped in the big gym where the event was held, the music gets louder and louder, echoing  throughout the gym. It was amazing to see that each team had its own unique costumes and team name. The team I decided to cheer for was called Zombie something Bakers...? It was a fairly lengthy name for the team that I have forgotten and each them were wearing white toques. Others dressed up as different heroes, colours of the rainbows and many of the riders made their own creative costumes.

                 The event was insane! The music and the spirit added to the insanity. It wasn't just the students participating in the event, but the teachers were doing the event as well! People were jumping up and down, dancing, circling around their team member as they take turns riding for ten minutes on the bike. It was like a massive dance party and a bike riding competition since everyone's energy levels were intense! Everyone was yelling, cheering, screaming and singing along to the songs that were played. Things started to heat up when Gangnam Style and Harlem Shake were played. There was someone dressed up as a banana doing Harlem Shake, which was amazing because he got awarded for that even though he wasn't part of the actual event. It was nice to see many volunteers helping out for a great cause. Overall, the Inside Ride was very successful! 

 
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      Jennifer Pahlka's TED talk states that apps that only take a couple days to write could spread virally, and it's a powerful way to connect citizens to their government. She is saying that technology makes it possible to fundamentally reframe the function of the government, improving and making it better. Another main point about this talk is being an active citizen is not just using your voice, but using your hands. 

      The point where she said "We are not going to fix government until we fix citizenship" is very true. Jennifer strongly stated  not give up on the government. If citizens are not involved to help strengthen the community,it won't improve. When one citizen helps another, it strengthens the community. I agree with the fact that the government plays a key role to connect those people who help each other. They could have connected to government service if they needed help, but a neighbor is a better and cheaper alternative. That's how you strengthen your community, by helping each other help!