HERO Campaign Marks 25th Anniversary with Annual Walk on Ocean City Boardwalk
On Sunday, October 19th, the John R. Elliott HERO Walk and 1-Mile Fun Run will take place on the Ocean City boardwalk. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the HERO Campaign. The walk is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a powerful community gathering dedicated to raising awareness for the life-saving message of safe, sober designated drivers and remembering those who have tragically lost their lives to drunk driving tragedies.
The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers was founded in 2000 by the family of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott after he was killed by a drunk driver in July 2000, just two months after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.
The campaign’s mission is simple: to promote the idea of the Designated Driver as the “true HERO of the evening.” This powerful, positive message—”Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.®”—has since grown from a local initiative to a major movement in seven states.
Here is Sunday’s schedule at the Sports and Civic Center (Sixth Street and Boardwalk):
- 9:00 a.m.: Registration and Check-In begins.
- 10:00 a.m.: The 1-Mile Fun Run kicks off.
- 10:30 a.m.: The official HERO Ceremonies and Awards will take place, including a solemn moment of silence to honor victims of DUI. A memory banner will be displayed, ensuring that those lost are never forgotten.
- 11:00 a.m.: The main event, the 5-Kilometer HERO Walk, commences along the iconic Ocean City Boardwalk. Miss Night in Venice 2025, Giuliana Guardascione, will have the honor of leading the parade of walkers.
Visitors will also be able to see a powerful visual representation of the campaign’s reach: a display of HERO police cruisers. These vehicles, wrapped with the blue-and-yellow HERO message, come from over 20 police departments. The event will also feature a new addition this year: the first-ever HERO tow truck, owned by Courthouse Towing, which supports the impounding of vehicles under the local “John’s Law.”
The HERO Campaign’s work extends far beyond this annual walk. It includes educational programs in schools and colleges, partnerships with local bars and taverns, and cooperation with highway safety agencies.
Whether you’re walking to remember a loved one, joining a team to support the cause, or simply taking the Designated Driver Pledge, your participation helps ensure the HERO Campaign can continue its vital work of creating a future with fewer drunk-driving tragedies.
For more information or to register a team, visit the official website at herocampaign.org. Come out this Sunday and take a step towards safer roads for everyone. Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.