Zechariah Cartledge has always had a deep respect for First Responders, and developed a passion for running when he was only 5 years old. At the age of 7, Zechariah began competing in various 5k events around the community. In October of 2017, Zechariah ran in the Tunnel to Towers 5k in Orlando, FL. This run proved to be a turning point for Zechariah and the spark that created Running 4 Heroes.

During this run, Zechariah had the opportunity to run with dozens of First Responders, many of whom ran the race in their full gear. From that point forward, Zechariah knew he wanted to keep running with and for our First Responders. Originally, his mission set out to honor a fallen 9/11 Police Officer named Walwyn Stuart, while raising money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Zechariah spent all of 2018 honoring this fallen hero in his various races and ended up raising over $11,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

It was at the end of 2018 when he heard about how many Police Officers lost their lives in the line of duty that year. Knowing that the number of miles he ran in 2018 was nearly the same amount of miles as Officers lost in 2018, Zechariah set out on a mission to run 1-mile in 2019 for every Officer lost in the line of duty from the prior year and to raise $100 for each Officer for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

However, just 2-weeks into 2019, Zechariah heard how more Officers had already lost their lives in the lines of duty in the current year, so he decided to add an additional mile for every Officer lost in 2019, but for them, he would run those miles carrying the Blue Line Flag in their honor.

On December 30th, 2024, Zechariah ran his last mile for the mission after conducting a total of 1,574 miles in honor of our fallen. On January 1st, 2025, Zechariah joined the Board of Directors.

His decision to honor our fallen heroes has led to the creation of the Running 4 Heroes 501(c)(3), which sets out to honor every First Responder lost in the line of duty as well as support those injured First Responders whose injuries were duty-related.

Tim Nazzaro comes to the Board of Directors with 24 years of law enforcement experience in the Central Florida area. His last 22 years have been with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando. He currently holds the rank of Sergeant and works on the Tourist Oriented Policing Squad in the Patrol division. Tim is a graduate of the State University of New York at Delhi, where he earned a degree in Architectural Technologies.

Tim is also a bagpiper who plays with the Central Florida 1st Responders Pipe and Drum Band, and has routinely helped honor fallen heroes during Zechariah’s runs with his piping.

Paul Diaz brings a wealth of experience in financial and tax
management to the Running 4 Heroes Board. As an IRS Enrolled Agent and the
owner of The Tax Cuttery, a Longwood, Florida-based national full-service tax
resolution, planning, and preparation firm, Paul has dedicated his career to
helping individuals and businesses navigate complex tax matters. He holds an
MBA in Accounting and is a recognized tax expert, often guiding clients on
various financial issues.

Paul is deeply committed to his community in and
around Central Florida and Winter Springs, where he actively participates in
various local initiatives and advocates for fiscal responsibility and
transparency in government. He is a member of the South Seminole Lodge of Free &
Accepted Masons in Casselberry, Florida, and serves as the President-Elect of
the Rotary Club of Winter Springs. His dedication to public service and
community well-being aligns perfectly with the mission of Running 4 Heroes.

In addition to his professional and community work,
Paul is passionate about supporting law enforcement and first responders. He
serves as the Campaign Treasurer for Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma’s
2024 re-election campaign and actively participates in the Winter Springs
Police Department Citizen’s Advisory Committee. These roles reflect his strong
commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of his community’s law
enforcement officers.

Paul looks forward to contributing his expertise in
financial management and community advocacy to further the organization’s
mission of honoring and supporting our fallen and injured heroes.