After a very successful kickoff last year, the 2^nd Annual “Remembering Michael T. Sot HERO Walk” has been scheduled for the morning of Saturday, June 18, 2022, at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, NJ. The Walk is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of safe and sober designated drivers and to celebrate Michael’s life.

The Sot family honors Michael’s memory, and his commitment to designated driving, by working with the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers to ensure other families don’t experience their pain and loss.

The goal of the HERO campaign, named in honor of John Elliott, a graduate of the Naval Academy who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in 2000, is to end drunk driving tragedies nationwide through the promotion and use of safe and sober designated drivers.

The Remembering Michael T. Sot HERO Walk will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022, at the Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, NJ. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and a Remembering Michael ceremony will take place at 10:45 a.m., just before the start of the Walk. All proceeds from the event support the HERO Campaign’s mission to promote the use of safe and sober designated drivers. Visit https://p2p.onecause.com/sotherowalk22 to register or donate.

Michael was a 20-year-old sophomore at The College of New Jersey when he pledged to remain sober one Saturday night in early December of 2018 and safely transport his Phi Kappa Psi fraternity brothers between a party and their on- and off-campus housing. He had made about two dozen trips as a designated driver that night before his vehicle was struck at 2 a.m. by a drunk driver. Michael and his five passengers were injured in the crash. They survived, but he succumbed to his injuries two days later.

“We thank Michael’s family and event coordinator Julia Sapia for partnering with the HERO Campaign to create the Remembering Michael T. Sot HERO Walk, now in its second year,” said Bill Elliott, chairman of the HERO Campaign. “Michael was a stand-out baseball player and member of the National Honor Society at Clark High School. He was regarded as someone who classmates, family, and friends could always depend on to do the right thing. Even after his passing, Michael’s legacy of service to others as a designated driver continues to inspire others.”

In Michael’s memory, the public is encouraged to visit https://p2p.onecause.com/sotherowalk22 to register to participate as an individual, start or join a team, or donate a walk participant or team to help end drunk driving.

In addition to the walk, supporters can take the HERO Pledge to be and use designated drivers, and enjoy music, an auction, face painting, and balloon sculptures for the kids.