NEC Awareness Run/Walk
Join us in Davis, CA, or run virtually in your local community on May 16, 2026, in honor of babies and families impacted by NEC. UC Davis Children’s Hospital and the NEC Society are teaming up for the second annual YOLO Run for a world without NEC!
In 2025, we had 300 runners join us in Davis, CA, and virtually from around the world to run our first annual YOLO Run for a World Without NEC!
We raised over $26K to support the NEC Society’s work to advance NEC research, education, and advocacy.
We can’t wait for our 2026 YOLO Run on May 17, NEC Awareness Day. Sign up for our email list to stay up-to-date with the NEC Society’s announcements!
The YOLO Run is presented by the NEC Society and UC Davis Children’s Hospital. NEC is an intestinal disease that can affect medically fragile infants during their first weeks and months of life. UC Davis Children’s provides lifesaving care for babies at risk of NEC, and the NEC Society is the world’s leading nonprofit advancing NEC research, education, and advocacy.
Yolo County locals, Jennifer and Noah Canvasser, launched the NEC Society after tragically losing their son, Micah, to the disease. By teaming up with UC Davis Children’s Hospital, the Canvasser family and NEC Society are building a world without NEC.
No worries! You can still be part of the NEC Awareness Run by registering virtually! Run, walk, or move from anywhere in the world while helping us raise awareness for a world without NEC.
You can also create a virtual team and invite your family and friends to participate alongside you—no matter where they live. Together, you can run the NEC Awareness Run and make an impact in your own communities.
All virtual participants will receive a run pack so you can raise awareness wherever you are.
Interested in sponsoring the YOLO Run? Email Jennifer@NECsociety.org
2025 Race Highlights
“We felt loved and had a very emotional day yesterday at the YOLO Run. There was a big group running for Archer, but also all the families who have been affected by NEC.
It was the greatest day of my life and I will never forget it. All of the effort put into the event is so appreciated by my family.”
Pam Danielson, 2025 Yolo Run/Walk Participant
