‘Heroes’ Sought to Carry Olympic Torch

The United Way of Ventura County is having a hard time finding community heroes to carry the Olympic torch when it passes through the region in early May en route to the summer games in Atlanta.

In the two weeks since the nonprofit group began soliciting applications, only a handful of people have called the organization’s Camarillo office to request one. How many applicants actually filled out the forms is unknown, because nomination papers are sent out of state, a spokeswoman said. And because applications must be postmarked by Nov. 30, there are only three days left to send them in.

But Debbie Giles of the United Way doesn’t believe the tepid response indicates a dearth of county heroes. It’s just that they may be an uninformed bunch.

“I’ve been real amused by how unaware Southern Californians are that the Olympics are coming,” she said. “We definitely have local heroes. What we’re trying to do is get the word out.”

About 5,500 community hero torchbearers are needed as the Olympic flame makes a circuitous route through 42 states next year. Locally, the torch will be carried from Barstow to Santa Barbara, although whether it will actually pass through Ventura County is unclear, Giles said.

Heroes must have done outstanding volunteer work, been a role model, committed acts of generosity and kindness or completed extraordinary feats, but they don’t have to be particularly athletic, she said. All that’s necessary is for the hero to be capable of carrying a 3 1/2-pound torch one kilometer--or .6 of a mile.

Entry forms are available at the United Way office, 1339 Del Norte Road. For information, call 485-6288.