Local charity Our Kids' oldest fundraising event is the launch of its annual calendar. On Thursday evening, the 2025 Our Kids calendar was launched at La Baracca.

It is the 23rd edition of celebrating children who have spent time in the Children's Ward and Special Care Nursery at Lismore Base Hospital; it has become one of Our Kids signature projects.

The cover of this year's calendar is Jack Felton.

Jack's mum, Janaya Felton, explained that Jack was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in March 2023.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition that can develop at any age. There is nothing anyone can do to prevent T1D, and right now, there is no known cure.

"It's been a really long and hard couple of years, but he's such a strong little little dude that he just gets through it.

"I would say that it doesn't actually affect Jack's life. He still lives his best life and does all the things that he loves to do like he rides his horse, his bulls, and his motorbike. So, I wouldn't say that it affects his quality of life as such, but I guess, you know, it's a new normal.

(Jack and Janaya at the launch of the Our Kids 2025 calendar with Jack as the cover photo)

"We've had to make some changes and adaptions to how he would normally live. So, we carb count Jack's meals. He's insulin-dependent, so he relies on insulin. He has a pump, which monitors all of his levels, and keeps him within range, and keeps him living his best life. Jack relies on insulin, basically, to survive.

As is the case with children, Janaya said Jack takes it all in his stride.

"It was a struggle to start with getting used to all of that medical intervention and all the injections and things like that, but he's definitely taken it in his stride and made the best out of the situation."

For Mum and Dad, the diagnosis and the daily changes have been more challenging.

"We're okay. It's been a really tough couple of years getting our heads around it. And, you know, watching your baby become very unwell and close to dying and losing your son is a pretty traumatic thing to go through, but we get through it."

Each of the twelve children has their own story to tell, and each was photographed by well-known local photographer Jacklyn Wagner, keeping a heart in mind.

Jacklyn has been photographing children and donating her time for 23 years to the Our Kids Calendar Project. She has photographed over 300 local families since 2003.

Excitingly, Jacklyn will be publishing a coffee table book in 2026/27, celebrating 25 years of the Our Kids calendar. All money raised will go to Our Kids.

"The calendar project is an extraordinary body of work; it is such a privilege to photograph the children each year and to be part of this project and team for so long," Jacklyn said.

Along with Jacklyn is local graphic designer Soren Hjorth from Lismore's Graphiti Design, who brings the design. Shaun McGuiness from Lismore City Printery sorts the paper to ensure the calendar is printed with the best result.

Sheila Turner from Picture Framing frames one version of the calendar. The result is a beautifully framed version that hangs in the foyer of Lismore Base Hospital for twelve months, which is then gifted to the featured child's family at the following year's launch along with a handmade quilt from 'Quilt for Kids'.

The quilts were presented to the children who were part of this year's 2024 calendar on Thursday night. The time, effort and detail put into creating the quilts make an incredible result that the children and families appreciate.

Unfortunately, not all children have a happy ending. One lost their battle a month ago, highlighting the crucial work that Our Kids, other charities and research companies do each year.

During 2024, Our Kids has been raising money for a Retcam (retinal camera). Dr Chris Ingall, the man behind Our Kids, said it is for looking at the back of the retina of very premature babies.

"This piece of equipment only costs $165,000, and it allows our tiny babies who have been born very premature, to have their eyes examined in their nursery. They don't have to go to Brisbane or the Gold Coast or somewhere else to have that necessary surveillance at the backs of their eyes. And if they don't have it, I have seen the tiny ones go blind. It can be that quick in the way it rolls.

"So, to have this for our tiny babies, who weigh a kilo, a kilo and half, to go to Brisbane and back is a big deal.

Dr Ingall said he hopes to raise enough funds so the Retcam can be here in early 2025. It will also service Tweed and Grafton.

The calendar is on sale now at a retail price of $25.00. They are available online at https://www.ourkids.org.au/calendars-purchase.php or from outlets across the Northern Rivers from this Tuesday (November 26):

• LISMORE: Book Warehouse, McDonald’s, Angus and Coote, Westpac Bank, Lismore Base Hospital, Kidsnest.
• CASINO: McDonald Pharmacy
• KYOGLE: Kyogle Pharmacy, Kym Malwakin Dentist.
• LENNOX HEAD: Harmony Child Care
• BALLINA: Be Seen Eyewear, East Ballina Foodworks, Book Warehouse, Creative Artisan Gallery, Crafty Litte Angels, Crossfit Ballina

If you are looking for a bulk order for your clients, workplace or family, please contact the Our Kids office on (02) 66202705 or email info@ourkids.org.au.

This team, under the guidance of Dr Chris Ingall and Rebekka Battista from Our Kids, year after year, produces a wonderful product that, due to local sponsors, allows all monies raised through the sale to go directly to Our Kids.

This year's sponsors are; Be Seen Eyewear, Goonellabah Medical Centre, McDonalds, North Coast Radiology, Richmond Waste, Southern Cross University, WCA Accountants, Westpac Bank, Richmond Sand and Gravel, Hurford Hardwood, Graphiti Design and North Coast Petroleum.

Thank you for helping Our Kids build better health services for our children in the Northern Rivers.