WINTER SPRINGS. FL. (WXYZ) — A 10-year-old Florida boy dedicated a mile run to Officer Rasheen McClain who was killed in the line on duty Wednesday evening while responding to a reported home invasion that turned out to be a domestic incident.
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In a video posted to Facebook Thursday evening, 10-year-old Zechariah Cartledge, who started the nonprofit organization Running 4 Heroes, stands on his school's track with a large Blue Line Flag.
"As many of you know, I'm dedicating my running to all of the officers who passed away in 2018," Cartledge said at the start of the video. "But unfortunately, I'm going to run too for a 2019 officer. So tonight I'm running for Officer Rasheen McClain."
The young boy did seven laps around the track to complete a mile. He was followed by three police cruisers with lights and sirens, as bagpipers played.
Cartledge makes a point to run one mile for every first responder who dies in the line of duty, according to the organization's website.
"He wants to honor those who gave up their life so we may live in a better world," the website states.
Running 4 Heroes uses donations to purchase the flags Cartledge runs with. He then presents those flags to the slain first responder's family. McClain's family will receive the flag Cartledge ran with along with a hand written note, according to the video.
View the Facebook post of Cartledge running in honor of slain DPD Officer Rasheen McClain above.
