Ocean City, NJ – More than 500 supporters joined in the 5th annual John R. Elliott HERO Walk, held last Saturday, October 10, 2015, on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Postponed from last week due to heavy storms at the shore, the event raised over $60,000 for the campaign and its mission to preventing drunk driving tragedies by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers.

For the second year, walkers participated in the Hats off to HEROES celebration, tossing hundreds of hats high in the air to start the walk. A number of “memory teams” teams supported the families of loved ones lost to drunk driving tragedies.

Scores of walkers also participated in the campaign’s 100,000 HEROES Challenge by pledging to become designated drivers. Campaign organizers hope to secure 100,000 designated driver pledges by the end of next year. Thirty thousand designated drivers have signed the pledge so far in New Jersey and other states since last year’s walk.

“We appreciate the enthusiastic support demonstrated by all the participants in this year’s walk,” said HERO Campaign Founder and Chairman Bill Elliott. “It is especially rewarding to see students from high schools and colleges get involved and pledge to make the responsible choice to get home safely through the use of designated drivers.”

The HERO Campaign is now active in New Jersey and six other states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware. A recent Stockton University survey found that the HERO Campaign is influencing hundreds and even thousands of southern New Jersey residents to become designated drivers. In addition to schools and colleges, the HERO Campaign partners with law enforcement, offices of highway safety, professional sports franchises, the licensed beverage industry and the news media to raise awareness and increase the use of designated drivers.

To view the event photo gallery, click here.

The view event videos, click here.

Author: M. Moyer  |  Date: October 13, 2015