An Olympian effort

Deirdre Newman

While you can get something super-sized at McDonald’s any day, you

could only get it super-sized by an Olympian on Wednesday.

Two Olympic athletes took orders, scooped fries and performed

other sundry tasks at the McDonald’s on Pacific Coast Highway in

Newport Beach for World Children’s Day.

The Olympic effort was part of the company’s first-ever worldwide

fund-raiser for children, which took place at franchises in more than

100 countries. Customers could donate directly to the effort, and a

dollar was also donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities with

certain purchases.

“To be a part of a worldwide effort that supports children’s

charities is a great thing,” said Connie Paraskevin-Young, who won a

bronze medal for sprint cycling in 1988. “I like to support anything

that involves kids.”

Paraskevin-Young has competed in five Olympic games. She is the

vice-president on the National Board for U.S. Olympians, coaches on a

selective basis and works with her husband, Roger, to provide

personal training, with an obvious emphasis on cycling, for novices

and pros.

The Corona del Mar resident tackled her McDonald’s experience with

the same determination as her Olympic training, watching intently as

manager Alberto Gonzalez demonstrated the art of scooping the fries.

“She needs a little practice, but she can do it,” Gonzalez said,

with the same confidence as an Olympic coach.

Later in the afternoon, Paraskevin-Young took the money for

customers’ orders and gave them back their change.

One of those customers was on her second loop through the

drive-through Wednesday, just for another chance to contribute to

World Children’s Day.

“I thought it was really sweet when I heard the commercial about

it on the radio,” said Lilli Padilla, of Downey, who bought an Egg

McMuffin for breakfast and then came back for a chicken sandwich at

lunch.

Later in the afternoon, Paraskevin-Young passed the torch to

Olympic swimming medalist Kristine Quance-Julian, of Mission Viejo,

who also worked at various stations.

Funds raised by nearly 600 southland McDonald’s locations will

benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and its local chapters,

including Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California.