The 42-bed neonatal unit uses state-of-the-art equipment equipment to provide round-the-clock care to babies born prematurely or with medical complications.

More than 1100 babies are admitted to the neonatal unit every year - around 25 per cent of all babies born at John Hunter Hospital.

However, the equipment is costly and the neonatal unit relies heavily on donations to keep it going.

One source of donations every year is the Lake Macquarie Running Festival.

Since the event started fundraising for the neonatal unit in 2010, $17,000 has been donated.

Event organisers Chad and Kate Griffith chose the neonatal unit as the event's beneficiary as their now eight-year-old triplets Ayla, Kalan and Ryder were born nine weeks premature and spent the first six weeks of their lives in the neonatal unit.

Fundraising is optional, but last year runners raised more than $4500. It was used by the hospital to buy two breast pumps.

This year the hospital hopes to buy a jaundice light, which costs at least $5000.

Director of newborn services Dr Paul Craven encouraged the community to sign up to the event and raise funds.

"A lot of people run in the event. Why not raise money at the same time?" he said.

"It alters the outcome of babies long-term; it makes that much of a difference."

■ The Lake Macquarie Running Festival will be held on Sunday, August 30. To sign up, go to lakemacrunning.com. To start fundraising or donate, go to everydayhero.com.au/event/lakemacrunning2015.