by Bill Elliott

More than two thousand people took part in the 3rd Annual HERO Walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk last year. A good number of those folks were members of a team; in fact, the Egg Harbor Township and the Ocean City school districts sent 24 and 12 teams, respectively. In fact, Team Halliday of the Ocean City Schools came up with the highest donation total, with $2,475.

The 4th Annual HERO Walk is scheduled for October 5, also on the Ocean City Boardwalk; click here www.theherowalk.org for information.

But of all the school teams entered in last year’s Walk, the Dr. Joyanne D. Miller School by far had the most participants , with 154; the Absegami High School ‘SC’ team was second with 141. The Miller School team actually won the Biggest School Attendance award for the second straight year.

Yet the Miller School consists of only two grades – 4th and 5th. Fifth-grade teacher Colin McClain coordinates the school’s team, which donated a total of $2,195 to the HERO Campaign by participating in the Walk.

“Winning the Most Attendance Award for the second straight year was pretty cool,” McClain said this week. “We’re shooting for 200 for this year’s Walk, but if we don’t get that it will be OK. It’s all for a worthy cause, no matter how many we get out.”

The annual HERO Walk is the biggest event of the year for the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers. My wife, Muriel, and I began the HERO Campaign in 2000, shortly after our son was killed by a drunk driver while driving home to Egg Harbor Township from Annapolis, Md. He had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy just two months before.

The HERO Campaign, with headquarters at The Richard Stockton College in Galloway Township, is dedicated to promoting safe and sober designated drivers as the way to prevent drunk driving tragedies; the annual HERO Walk is one way we spread awareness of that message. McClain, from Galloway Township, has been involved in putting a team in the Walk for a few years now. He had friends who knew our son John, and, in fact, McClain’s aunt actually taught John in the 4th grade.

“I like to get kids involved in community efforts,” McClain said, “and this cause and the EHT connection just made it a great learning experience for them. We connect it with our own ‘Believe in You’ program.

“The HERO Campaign and the Walk have been very well received throughout the school district,” he said. “We have about 8,000 students and 1,200 staffers overall, and we’ve made the HERO Campaign our official charity the past couple years.

“In fact, Craig Kahn, our vice-principal at Miller School, came up with our own slogan: “Be An EHT HERO.” But getting the word out and registering team members takes some help, McClain said.

“We really get a big boost from the Parents Club. Getting the word out to students and parents does take some effort, and the Parents Club sends home info to parents, puts postings on a Facebook page and even sends out mailings. Can’t thank them enough,” McClain said.
And what does McClain think his students get out of participating in the Oct. 5 Walk?

“Well, first, it’s community involvement and citizenship. This is one way to show that they need to participate if they want to make a difference in the world, and even at age 10 their presence can make a difference. The whole Walk sends that message.

“And second, we already have DARE in the classroom, but this supports DARE and serves as a reminder not to drink and drive.”
Last year’s Walk raised $100,000 for the HERO Campaign. This year’s Walk, on the Ocean City Boardwalk from 6th to 20th streets and back, will serve as the kickoff to our 15th Anniversary year.

The Walk is always a fun time, with opportunities to make some new friends while doing your part to prevent drunk driving tragedies, and Mother Nature always blesses us with good weather.

So, hope to see you there on October 5. Again, you can register to participate at: www.theherowalk.org