At The Finish Line

by Kevin Fritz

After six years of running more than 1,500 miles in honor of fallen first responders, 16-year-old Zechariah Cartledge is hanging up his sneakers. The Winter Springs resident ran his last mile in December. 

“After years of running, it felt a little weird having it come to an end,” says Zechariah. “It was a wonderful tribute to all first responders.”

His mission began in 2019 when he and his father, Chad, cofounded the nonprofit Running 4 Heroes, combining Zechariah’s love for running with honoring the lives of fallen first responders. 

Zechariah made a pledge to run one mile while carrying a flag for every first responder lost in the line of duty nationwide. He ran his first mile on January 12, 2019, for Officer Natalie Corona from California, who had just begun her law enforcement career when she was killed at a traffic stop.

As time went on, a handful of other youngsters joined Running 4 Heroes – some local, others scattered throughout the United States. Each flag carried during the miles they run is given to the fallen responder’s loved ones, sometimes by mail, other times in person. Running 4 Heroes also provides support to injured first responders and families of the fallen and offers scholarships for youth who run for the organization.

Mileage That Matters

At the time of Zechariah’s retirement, he had run a mile for each of 1,571 fallen first responders – the last official one being Sergeant Elio Diaz from Charlotte County, Florida, on December 29. He also traveled to more than 130 counties in the United States, representing almost all 50 states, to visit families of the fallen. Since Running 4 Heroes was founded, more than 1,900 miles have been logged. One of the more recent miles was run in January of this year by Michael Hall of Oviedo, who along with Giuliana Sanna of Winter Springs, is now filling Zechariah’s shoes locally.

The organization’s board of directors, of which Zechariah is now a member, voted to set the maximum age at 16 for those running the miles.

“We have always wanted to have our youth leading the cause,” says Chad, the organization’s president. “We believe it has more of an impact.” Running his last mile signifies a new phase for Zechariah. He is looking forward to spending more time racing at New Smyrna Speedway, another one of his passions. After high school, he plans to attend Seminole State College and study communications, using his degree to work in the NASCAR field.

However, his dedication to Running 4 Heroes remains steadfast.

“These were the best six years of my life, knowing how much we have helped people,” says Zechariah, “and I have made thousands of lifelong friendships. I can see a future now as a mentor, and I am excited to see what the next chapter brings.”

Paying Tribute to Our Heroes

A few years ago, Running 4 Heroes opened Tribute Hall in Winter Springs, a museum honoring first responders who died while serving their respective communities in Central Florida and across the country. Now located at a new spot in Winter Springs (1000 Belle Avenue, Suite 1060), the museum houses objects, photos, and videos, all supporting those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The emotionally moving museum includes a 9/11 living classroom, which depicts that tragic day in our nation’s history through pictures, words, and a 250-pound steel beam from the collapsed World Trade Center.

The Tribute Hall also honors 11 Seminole County law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Another section provides mental health resources in conjunction with a tribute to first responders who took their own lives.

With a new Tribute Hall location and a new wave of youth taking the lead in running, the nonprofit remains strong in its objective. Chad says the organization has distributed close to $1 million in the past six years, with the majority of funds raised coming from individual donors. An annual gala adds upwards of $20,000 to the coffers.

“The mission of Running 4 Heroes has not changed,” says Chad. “We will continue to honor those lost in the line of duty.”