Florida fourth-grader runs in honor of fallen Appleton firefighter

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Fallen Appleton Firefighter Mitch Lundgaard is being honored in a special tribute this weekend more than a thousand miles away.

A 10-year-old Florida boy, Zechariah Cartledge, runs for fallen first responders. When he heard of Appleton Firefighter Mitch Lundgaard's death, he said he knew what he had to do. The fourth-grader dedicated a one-mile run to Lundgaard this weekend.

"I felt the need to run for him because he sacrificed his life every day and you don't hear of a firefighter getting shot a lot of times so I really wanted the family to get through this hard time," he said.

Lundgaard was killed while on duty Wednesday. A call to assist a man thought to be having a medical emergency on a bus escalated into a shooting that ended with the man and an Appleton firefighter dead and two others hurt. For this 10-year-old, it's hard to comprehend the firefighter's death.

"I've never heard that firefighters get hate and I don't know who in their right mind would shoot a firefighter for no good reason," he said.

Cartledge runs for heroes and the loved ones they've left behind. He says the Lundgaard family reached out to him after the run saying thank you.

"I truly love seeing that they're a little happy through this hard time," Cartledge said.

Cartledge is also running 150 miles to pay tribute to 150 police officers who died in the line of duty last year. To follow his journey and help,

click here. 

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