This Saturday night, 250 guests will party the night away at one of Lismore's iconic social nights of the year: the Our Kids Winter Ball.The event is held at the start of winter each year with the goal of raising enough money to purchase life-saving equipment for the region's seriously ill children.Last year's record fundraising total of over $33,000 will be difficult to beat, but Fundraising Coordinator Rebekka Battista is confident the generosity of those attending can raise the fundraising bar once again.There are two equipment options for this year's Winter Ball. If $32,000 is raised, a humidicrib will be purchased, and if more than $32,000 is raised, the money will go towards a $55,000 ventilator.The 2024/25 fundraising years have been a huge success for Our Kids. A Retcam was the most expensive piece of medical equipment that Our Kids founder, Dr Chris Ingall, desired to change the lives of extremely premature babies and their parents.The $150,000 Retcam could check the growth of blood vessels in a premature baby's eyes. If they grow over the back of the eyes, the baby could go blind. Previously, the baby had to be transferred to Brisbane, causing it and the parents more stress. But thanks to funds raised at the Our Kids Samson Challenge, Golf Day, Daryl Chapman Fun Run and more, the Retcam was successfully purchased.As ticketholders eagerly await the start time on Saturday night, the hard work of creating a spectacular ballroom with an amazing sparkling entry got underway on Monday when Greg and the team from We Hire began building the two massive marquees. A third marquee will be built today. This will probably be the most frequented marquee as it is the location of the bar.The team from O'Brien Electrical and Plumbing were setting up the fairy lights for the entrance. "I think we're going to end up with something like 600 metres of fairy lights, which is pretty cool," Rebekka said."We do have an amazing event committee. We've got Michelle Gosling out here; she's been incredible. Carmen Kennedy-Beaumont has been amazing. Sam Gordon, who works for Our Kids. They're all working on the incredible setup. And tomorrow, we've probably got 15 to 20 people turning up to set 25 tables and set the scene. And then Deborah Marks, who has been extraordinary by donating all her goodies, is helping us bring colour to the day. I can't give the colours away, because that's a surprise."The generosity of everyone is just extraordinary. The Garden Forest Peta Wells gives the flowers at cost price. The Cath Simes Band is going to keep everyone going well into the night, but also, she's donated her band to play at a private function to the highest bidder. Last year, it went for $4,000. Daniel Jackson is the guy lighting up all our trees because we have clear marquee roofs to make the grounds look spectacular."Daniel has been treated by Dr Chris Ingall in the Our Kids ward all his life, so now Daniel is giving back by helping to create an incredible ambience.Rebekka also wanted to thank Daniel and Scott at the Lismore Turf Club, Secret Chef, for supplying dinner and dessert, Katrina Beohm, Joel Jensen, Richmond Sand and Gravel, Mountain Blue, Bush To Beach Legal, Herefords, Southern Cross University, Connect Business Solutions, North Coast Petroleum and SEE Civil."Because these sponsors lean in financially, it just helps the costs to stay down for our functions, which then means the prices are attainable, and then it allows us to raise the funds we need."Tickets are closed for the 2025 Our Kids Winter Ball; however, you can still donate to Our Kids directly via their website or through the Silent Auction bidding, which is open to everyone. The auction items include $500 worth of Rib Cube Roll, an autographed Craig Johnston signed soccer ball, an Akubra hat, and tickets to a Gold Coast Titans home game.One volunteer, Rebekka, wanted to highlight her dad and her mum."I just want to make a big shout out to my parents because, you know, with family, they are not volunteering, they're voluntolding. So, even my dad has played a massive part. He's always thought about how to do the fairy lights different, and he's spent weeks creating a fairy light chandelier for the outdoor space. So, just under his guidance, the place looks amazing. And then, of course, my mum keeps us all fed. It is a family effort."They say it takes a city to put on an Our Kids function, and I'm so appreciative."