Walking with heroes in Foxboro
BY JUDEE COSENTINO FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
FOXBORO – A brisk morning wind whipping through Gillette Stadium Sunday didn’t deter the nearly 1,500 participants and 50 teams that gathered for the inaugural HERO Campaign 5K walk to honor a New Jersey man killed by a drunk driver.
Hosted by the New England Patriots and Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, the nonprofit HERO Campaign of Designated Drivers strives to prevent the occurrence of drunk driving by registering designated drivers, in partnership with the NFL’s TEAM Coalition alcohol responsibility program.
At least $50,000 was expected to be raised at the event, which was the first in the state of Massachusetts.
John Elliott, the son of the campaign’s founders Bill and Muriel Elliott of New Jersey, was killed in a drunk driving accident in July 2000 as he was on his way home to celebrate his mother’s birthday.
John Elliott had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy two months before the accident and was preparing to enter the Naval Flight School.
Bill and Muriel Elliott were in attendance at Gillette Stadium, and were deeply grateful for the large turnout and support.
“It means everything to us,” said Bill Elliott. “We believe (drunk driving) is the most preventable disease in America, and we think (the message of ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’) is resonating, and today is proof of that.”
What he was most proud of was that 29 Norfolk County high schools were participating in the event.
“What’s really encouraging is to see all the school students,” he said.
Five friends from Quincy High School came out to support “a really good cause.”
“People don’t realize how dangerous it is to drink and drive,” said Erin Fin. “People need to take it more seriously.”
Before the walk kicked off shortly after 11 a.m., Morrissey addressed the crowd with a sobering statistic: there have been seven alcohol-related deaths in Norfolk County since July of this year, with one person a week being either severely injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents.
The Elliotts were also joined by two memory teams for 13-year-old Melanie Powell of Marshfield, whose family organized “Melanie’s Law,” and the family of Ryan Kieseling.
Led by the Boston Police Department Gaelic Column, the participants were led around the stadium, beginning in front of the Patriots Pro Shop, past the practice field and around Patriot Place Plaza before finishing in front of CBS Scene.
The event was sponsored by Tedeschi Food Shop, who promised to present the campaign with a $500 check if the HERO Campaign’s Facebook page received 500 likes. By the time the walk began, there were nearly 300 likes.
