JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Running 4 Heroes, Inc. hosted a running event Wednesday night to honor and support the lives of two fallen Jacksonville first responders.
The event paid tribute to the lives of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Correction Officer Bradford McNew and Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department Engineer Heath O’Shea, who died serving their communities.
McNew was shot and killed in October at a Love’s Truck Stop, just minutes after finishing his shift. He intervened in a domestic incident between Demaurea Grant and a woman when Grant shot him.
The devoted father, husband and friend was remembered as an “amazing person,” who was “kind to a fault but always [kept] God on his side.”
Zechariah Cartledge, who founded Running 4 Heros in 2019, participated to honor O’Shea and McNew. He ran one mile with an American Flag with a blue stripe in his hand for McNew.
And he ran another mile with an American Flag with a red stripe for O’Shea.
O’Shea, 44, who served with the fire department for 20 years and was assigned to Tanker 54, died unexpectedly after suffering from a medical emergency while on duty in April.
His colleagues said he “selflessly and honorably” served the Jacksonville community until his last day.
The flags were given to the fallen heroes' families after the run
