Braintree High Students Join HERO Walk

Students from Braintree High School's Students Against Destructive Decisions group joined more than two dozen other local schools and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey in a 5K walk around the grounds of Patriot Place earlier this month.

They were raising money and awareness for the Ensign John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for designated drivers. The Oct. 20 walk was organized by Morrissey's office, Patriot Place, Tedeschi Foods Shops and Muriel and Bill Elliott, the parents of a Naval Academy graduate who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000 for whom the campaign is named.

“Society has reversed course on destructive behaviors before. Smoking rates have plummeted since we looked the real consequences of smoking in the face. We can do the same with drunk driving,” Morrissey said in a statement.

“It has to start with young people appreciating the dangers but also understanding that the cure is having one person in a group of friends step up and say ‘I’ll be the HERO tonight, I’ll be the designated driver."

The HERO Campaign began in the Elliott’s home area of New Jersey. It is now in every NFL stadium and many communities, and the New England Patriots lead the NFL in participation. The Campaign’s partnership with District Attorney Morrissey makes Norfolk County the first region in Massachusetts to adopt and promote the campaign. They are online at www.herocampaign.org and information is also available at www.norfolkda.com .