Zechariah Cartledge
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Zechariah Cartledge | |
|---|---|
| Cartledge in 2024 | |
| Born | Zechariah Christian Cartledge October 21, 2008 |
| Years active | 2019-Present |
| Known for | Founder of Running 4 Heroes, Inc. |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Website | https://running4heroes.org |
Zechariah Christian Cartledge (born October 21, 2008) is the founder of the non-profit organization Running 4 Heroes, Inc. His nonprofit runs and raises money to honor fallen, injured, retired, or serving First Responders.[1]
Career
[edit ]In his youth, Cartledge greatly appreciated First Responders and the work that they provided for their communities. In 2019, at age 10, he founded Running 4 Heroes with the goal to honor First Responders that had fallen while serving their country. His father, Chad Cartledge, is President of the organization.
In 2019, Cartledge he announced that he would run 1 mile for every police officer lost in their line of duty during 2018, amounting to 148 miles. His ambition was recognized by Attorney General Ashley Moody, who awarded him her first ever 'Back the Blue Award'. Moody later commented, "Zechariah’s unique and passionate support for the law enforcement community Is admirable. That is why he is the perfect first award recipient for our Back the Blue Campaign. I look forward to following his mission this year and praise him for bringing attention to the ultimate sacrifice these officers made." Cartledge additionally announced that he planned to raise 15,000ドル for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, having 6,135ドル at the time. [2]
In February 2021, Cartledge and Running 4 Heroes sponsored Mike Harmon Racing's Bayley Currey for the NASCAR Xfinity Series opener race at Daytona International Speedway. Currey finished 33rd.
In March, Cartledge ran a mile around Bristol Motor Speedway to honor fallen heroes in Tennessee from 2018 to 2021. He gave a 5,000ドル check to the Knox County Sheriff's Office's Deputy Coble, who was injured in March 2020. Due to ongoing complications with COVID-19, he wasn't able to give the check to Coble in person. [3]
In September, Cartledge traveled to Norton, Virginia to give a 10,000ドル check to police officer and firefighter Robert Potter.[4]
In December, Cartledge ran in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and provided a 10,000ドル check to police officer Tyler Franks, who had been shot multiple times in the line of duty on May 4th, 2021. He also awarded police officer Andrew Gibson the Heroes Hero Award for saving officer Franks' life that day.[5]
In January 2022, Cartledge let a run through Rolla, Missouri to honor recovering Rolla Police Department officer Leann Robertson. He provided her a 10,000ドル grant to assist with her injury recovery.[6]
In April, he ran through Joplin, Missouri to honor all fallen first responders from Joplin.[7]
In December, he gave a 10,000ドル check to injured first responder Ronald Harper Jr. in Spencer County, Indiana.[8]
In June 2023, he traveled to Chetek, Wisconsin to run for three police officers who had been killed in the line of duty earlier that year, and to give a 5,000ドル to Deputy Kaitie Leising's family.[9]
In December 2024, at age 16, he ran his 1,572nd mile, the final one he would run for Running 4 Heroes, as he was no longer eligible to participate as a Youth Runner due to his age. Cartledge later referred to this run as "the end of an era" [10]
References
[edit ]- ^ "About Us". Running 4 Heroes Inc.
- ^ Reporter, Nya Ramirez | Staff (March 2, 2019). "Boy, 10, displays rare commitment to law enforcement officers".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Knoxville welcomes a hero! | Running 4 Heroes founder to run a mile to honor officers who died in the line of duty across TN". wbir.com. March 15, 2021.
- ^ McClung, Andrew (September 26, 2021). "Running for a hero: Southwest Virginia officer receives a special honor". WCYB.
- ^ "Running 4 Heroes Honors Officers | Washington County Enterprise-Leader". wcel.nwaonline.com. December 29, 2021.
- ^ Sheeley, Andrew (January 18, 2022). "First responders, Running 4 Heroes, pay respect to Rolla officer". phelpscountyfocus.com.
- ^ "13-Year-Old running through Joplin for fallen officers". April 30, 2022.
- ^ Writer, Julie Smith-Frazer Staff (December 7, 2022). "Spencer County Deputy receives grant from Running 4 Heroes Inc". Dubois County Herald.
- ^ Le, Pauleen (June 14, 2023). "Florida teen behind Running 4 Heroes travels to Wisconsin to honor fallen officers - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com.
- ^ Staff, FOX 35 Digital (December 30, 2024). "Florida teen Zechariah Cartledge completes final run for fallen heroes". FOX 35 Orlando.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)