HERO Walk, Oct. 14, attracting a young audience

Written by Ann Richardson Thursday, October 11, 2012 01:00 am

OCEAN CITY — The second annual HERO Walk will feature a brigade of decidedly young participants on the Ocean City boardwalk Sunday, Oct. 14.

Students from Ocean City High School and Intermediate School were recruited to participate in the “Be a Hero, Be a Designated Driver” effort and will be among what organizers hope will be more than 2,000 participants.

The HERO Walk benefits the HERO Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing drunk driving by promoting the use of designated drivers.

The HERO Campaign was established in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott, who lost his life to a drunken driver in July 2000. Elliott had graduated two months earlier from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he was named the outstanding HERO (Human Education Resource Officer) of his class.

Bill Elliott, John’s father and chairman of the HERO Campaign, said both Ocean City and Egg Harbor Township high schools have offered “enthusiastic” support of the event. It has long been a goal of the HERO Campaign to attract a young audience, in an effort to instill the importance of a designated driver.

“We appreciate the support and participation of the schools,” Elliott said. “They have a friendly competition going and we expect that both schools will bring big crowds out for us.”

Elliott, who lives in Egg Harbor Township, said HERO Campaign officials met with school officials last month and attended a “club carnival” at Ocean City High School where they enlisted the students’ help.

Kathy Taylor, superintendent of the Ocean City School District, said the HERO Campaign’s message is important.

“The HERO Campaign is about safety, responsibility and making good decisions," she said. "That’s what we do in education. By supporting the HERO Walk, we support the Campaign message."

Richard Stockton College of New Jersey plans to have a big presence, too, Elliott said. The 2012 HERO of the Year, Christine Padovani, will lead a large contingent.

“I think it’s really important for all of us to take care of people when they need a ride home,” Padovani said. “Even if you’re not the person who agreed to be a designated driver, you need to take part in the HERO Campaign and be responsible.”

“I’m working to get everyone on my floor at the dorm to take part,” she said. “All of us want our friends to come home alive, and educating people about the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers helps make that a reality.”

Padovani said that her own family has been touched by a drunk-driving tragedy.

“My aunt was on her way to my cousin’s wedding, when she was hit by a drunk driver and killed instantly,” Padovani said. “I never want anything like that to happen to another family.”

Elliott said the students are collectively helping to save lives across the country.

“High school and college-aged students are the perfect population for this message; they understand it and respond, they don’t see it as preaching. They realize that it is very important to have someone take you home, not to drink and drive. It’s a simple message that could have a positive impact, change behavior and save lives,” he said.

People understand that drinking and driving is against the law, he said, yet they still do it.

“I have no answer as to why,” he said. “They know they could be arrested and fined. They enjoy drinking, and that’s OK, unless you drive. The person who killed our son was only thinking about himself. He drank for 10 hours and then got behind the wheel.”

Alcohol-related crashes cause about 200 deaths per year in New Jersey, accounting for 32 percent of all traffic fatalities. Drunken driving deaths would virtually disappear overnight, he said if everyone enlisted a designated driver. 

“The good news is that people are responding to our message,” he said.

Last year, the event raised over $100,000.

“I understand we are still in a recession,” Elliott said. “Every donation is appreciated.”

Walkers can pre-register at TheHEROWalk.org, or sign up the day of the event beginning at 9 a.m. The Walk – which is open to all – begins at 11 a.m., and includes food, entertainment, trophies and prizes for top fundraising teams and individuals.

Teams interested in participating can find Walk registration information at www.herocampaign.org.