The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign will host its 12th HERO Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run on Sunday, Oct. 15 at the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center, located at 6th Street and the Boardwalk. Participants can pre-register individually or as a team at HEROcampaign.org.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. A one-mile fun run, sponsored by the Foster-Karney Foundation, begins at 10 a.m. The HERO Walk follows at 11 a.m.
In addition to memorializing John R. Elliott, a Navy Ensign from Egg Harbor Township who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in July of 2000, a memory banner at the walk will recognize numerous victims from New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania who died in crashes involving drunk drivers. Active teams of family and friends will walk in memory of the following victims: Michael T. Sot, Matt Uhl, Chad Horne, Kevin Ade, Ryan Schleyer, Alfonso Lee Dickerson, Ron Moretti Jr, John Cruz, Nikk Marvel, Ricci Branca, Nicole Romanelli, Daniel “Sonny” DuRoss, Frederick Shelton, Jennifer Stoop, Mariella Mulholland, and Phillip Gatto.
Prior to the start of the Walk, a new HERO-wrapped patrol vehicle will be unveiled at the Ocean City Sports & Civic Center. The Stockton University Security Patrol SUV will be dedicated in memory of Stockton student Kevin Ade, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in 2007. In addition to the Stockton HERO vehicle, HERO patrol cars from police departments throughout South Jersey will be on display. Each of these vehicles serve as rolling billboards for the campaign as they are wrapped with the HERO Campaign’s logo and safety message, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.”
Walk participants will also get to check out the new HERO DUI Simulator that will be traveling to South Jersey high schools. Like a video game, the unit includes a steering wheel, pedals for gas and brakes, and simulates impaired driving to teach students the perils of drunk/drugged and distracted driving.
All proceeds from the event support the Campaign’s mission to promote the use of safe and sober designated drivers.
