For a Good Cause -- Spencer York

Spencer knows how many bike racks it takes to put on the Pacific Coast

Triathlon: a lot.

The 17-year-old Boy Scout is acting president of the Scouts’ local

Venture Crew, a group of older Scouts who enjoy trips and activities

together. This will be the second year the crew has been asked to help

out at the triathlon, a volunteer opportunity Spencer calls fun and

rewarding.

“We have to get up at about 5 in the morning to be there,” the Corona

del Mar resident said. “It’s pretty early, but it’s worth it.”

A portion of the triathlon’s proceeds benefit the Venture Crew. So for

Spencer, the considerable amount of work is more than worthwhile.

Like last year, he will get up before the break of dawn on Sunday to

help set up for the event. First, he and other volunteers will help

assemble about 100 bike racks where triathletes begin the bicycle portion

of the race. The volunteers also help set up all the canopies, the

registration and other items needed to put on the race.

“There are a lot of bike racks to be set up -- as many as there are

people in the triathlon,” said Spencer, a student at Mater Dei High

School in Santa Ana. “It’s one of the Venture Crew’s major outings. Last

year, it was a lot of hard work, but we knew it was going to something

good. And it was kind of exciting to be involved in.”

Spencer doesn’t just volunteer for the Scouts and enjoy membership in

the Scouts for the last four years. He also works for the Scouts.

Five days a week, for about five hours a day, Spencer works in the

Scout Shop at the Boy Scouts of America Orange County Council

headquarters in Costa Mesa.

“I think Boy Scouts is a great program because it helps younger Scouts

become better leaders, and it’s a great way for kids to get together and

have fun,” Spencer said.

FYI

The Pacific Coast Triathlon, a fund-raiser for youth groups now in its

fifth year, will begin at 7 a.m. Sunday at Crystal Cove State Park. For

more information, call Tina Hoover at (949) 675-3498.

* Story by June Casagrande