Declan Emmons Running 4 Heroes

By Gloria Way

  Running 4 Heroes started with a kid, an appreciation for our First Responders, and a mission to raise awareness and funds for those fallen in the line of duty.
  Zechariah Cartledge was born with the gift of running. He was raised with an appreciation for First Responders and all they do for the community. As he grew older, Zechariah decided to help the families of our fallen First Responders in a meaningful way. Encouraged by the mission and vision of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Zechariah began his journey raising funds for those families by running.
  In 2019, Zechariah founded the Running 4 Heroes non-profit 501(c)(3). Since then, other Youth Runners have joined the cause, and together they run one mile for every First Responder who makes the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Our Youth Runners want to honor those who gave up their life so we may live in a better world.

  Declan Emmons, grandson of Loretta and Mike Emmons of Anahuac, is running in honor of Reserve Deputy John C. Stahl III. Stahl died June 8, 2025, of a traumatic brain injury received nearly 21 years ago.

  The incident occurred on June 7, 2004, when Jefferson County Deputy John C. Stahl lost control of his cruiser while responding to a suspicious vehicle call, according to the page. His vehicle rolled several times before catching fire. A passing driver pulled Stahl from the vehicle, and he was airlifted to a hospital. He remained in a coma for weeks. Since the incident, Stahl had suffered from a traumatic brain injury, causing a seizure disorder. He died on June 8, 2025.

  Stahl, who served the Jefferson County, Indiana Sheriff’s Office for 15 years, was a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran. He is survived by his wife and his sister.

  The tribute run for Deputy Stahl will be on Saturday, December 20th. The run will be at 9:30 am and Declan will run the block around Anahuac High School. Declan will carry a thin line flag and will run one mile in honor of Deputy Stahl.  He will send the flag and a handwritten letter to the hero’s family afterward. It’s a deeply meaningful experience for the youth runner and for the law enforcement and first responders’ departments who join Running 4 Heroes in honoring these men and women.

 For more information, visit www.running4heroes.org.