Coastal Georgia NICU Warrior Run set for Sept. 26 in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Community members, families, and healthcare workers will gather in Savannah on Saturday, Sept. 26, for the annual Coastal Georgia NICU Warrior Run.

Organized in observance of NICU Awareness Month in September, the event aims to celebrate neonatal intensive care unit graduates, support families who have navigated the NICU journey, and honor the medical professionals who care for premature and critically ill infants.

The event features a 5K, 10K, and Family Walk. Proceeds from the run will benefit the Candler Hospital NICU and ongoing community advocacy initiatives.

Founder Chelsey Barnes, whose own family experienced the NICU, established the event through The S.I.A.N.A. Project (Supporting Infants and NICU Advocates) to build a network of support across the Coastal Empire.

“This event has grown into something much greater than a race,” Barnes said. “It is a morning dedicated to celebrating strength, honoring incredible families and medical professionals, recognizing NICU survivors, remembering the journeys that brought us here, and ensuring families throughout Coastal Georgia know they are seen, supported, and celebrated.”

Event Details

• Event: Coastal Georgia NICU Warrior Run (5K, 10K, and Family Walk)
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
• Time: Race starts at 8:30 a.m.
• Location: Savannah, Georgia
• More info: Visit the Coastal Georgia NICU Warrior Run website or email info@coastalganicuwarriorsrun.org.