More Than $13,000 Raised for Coastal Georgia’s Littlest Fighters at Inaugural NICU Run

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Organizers said more than 300 people participated in the inaugural “Coastal Georgia NICU Warrior Run” on Saturday morning.

Participants ran in the 5k, 10k, or family walk.

The event was aimed 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 raised over $13,000, and proceeds will go to Candler Hospital NICU and ongoing community advocacy initiatives.

“It’s not just about the run, it’s not just about the walk, it’s a full movement for a village. What we hope is that people can find one another, to inspire one another, to push and motivate each other and also go past just this walk and run,” said Founder Chelsey Barnes, whose youngest daughter, Siana, began her life as a NICU patient at Candler Hospital. “We hope this will be a yearly event. We hope it gets bigger, we hope it gets better. ”