FOXBOROUGH, Mass. _ When the New England Patriots take the field for Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., they will have a very special fan on hand cheering for them.

Ray Martel, of West Hempstead, N.Y. and a native of Pawtucket, R.I., has been selected to attend the game against the Seattle Seahawks at the University of Phoenix Stadium courtesy of the Patriots and Team Coalition. Martel’s name was picked from more than 28,000 fans who registered to be HERO Campaign designated drivers at Gillette Stadium this season.

The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers is a non-profit organization that seeks to prevent drunk driving by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers. It was established in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott of New Jersey, who was killed by a drunken driver in July 2000, two months after graduating with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Martel and his father-in-law will attend the Super Bowl as guests of the Patriots and TEAM Coalition, a non-profit organization established by the NFL and other professional sports leagues to provide server training and designated driver promotion at stadiums and arenas nationwide. Arbella Insurance of Quincy, Mass., is also a sponsor of the HERO Campaign at Gillette Stadium.

“For me, winning this trip is almost better than the Patriots getting to the Super Bowl,” said Martel, 39. “About 99 percent of the time that I go someplace with my family or friends I end up being the designated driver, just because I like knowing everyone will get home safe. So, I believe in the HERO Campaign’s program and what it stands for.”

Martel has been a Patriots fan since 1985. He spent about 15 years doing sports radio in New York City, but now works in sales for a company that sells gas pipeline testing equipment. He lives in West Hempstead with his wife and two children.

“I’ve been following the Patriots since the second half of the AFC Championship game of the 1985 season (New England defeated Oakland 27-20 on Jan. 5, 1986, but lost the Super Bowl to the Chicago Bears 46-10). I must have seen more than 150 games in the last 25 years.”

Martel said he attended three home games this season, but entered the HERO Campaign contest in only two. He also attended three road games.

This season the Patriots, in partnership with the HERO Campaign, set an NFL record for a fifth straight year by registering the most designated drivers. In a substantial commitment to keeping its fans safe, the Patriots have registered a total of 112,000 designated drivers over the past five seasons at HERO Campaign booths located around Gillette Stadium’s main concourse in Foxborough, Mass. The booths are staffed by students from Rhode Island’s Roger Williams University.

Martel and other fans pledge to be designated drivers for their friends and family in exchange for free soft drinks at stadium concessions and at more than a dozen bars and restaurants at Patriot Place, adjacent to the stadium. Registrants also became eligible to win a trip to the Super Bowl with the Patriots. Both Martel and, of course, the Patriots, won the trip to Arizona.

“We are proud to have Ray represent the team and all our fans at the Super Bowl,” said Jim Nolan, Patriots senior vice president of operations. “Ray and hundreds of other designated drivers are our heroes for providing safe rides home for friends and family who choose to enjoy alcoholic beverages at our games.”

“Our son John was selected the Outstanding HERO of his graduating class for his service to his fellow midshipmen at the Naval Academy,” said Bill Elliott, John’s father and chairman of the HERO Campaign. “The Patriots and the New England Revolution soccer team are continuing John’s legacy of service by helping to prevent drunk driving and save lives in his memory.”

The HERO Campaign is currently in the midst of a 100,000 HEROES pledge drive to sign up that number of designated drivers throughout the country during its 15th anniversary year. In addition to the Patriots, the campaign partners with major league baseball teams, NASCAR, schools and colleges, law enforcement and the alcohol industry to promote its message: Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver. This April the campaign will hold a 10,000-person “Hat’s off to HEROES” hat toss at the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, Ky., as part of its pledge drive.