The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation Lottery is back for its 31st year.

It's an annual event that doubles as a fundraiser, with different kinds of research, equipment, and programs receiving funding each year.

In the three decades it's been running, over $30 million has been raised for children's health programs, equipment, initiatives, and research.

This year, the lotto is supporting technology known as Brain Computer Interface (BCI).

BCI helps children with limited mobility communicate and perform certain tasks using only their brains.

Foothills mother Stephanie Sonnenberg describes how her seven-year-old daughter Claire, who has cerebral palsy, has been using BCI.

"We have a team at BCI and they've introduced us to this whole new world of technology. We went in to start and I remember the first day, they put this hat on Claire's head with all these electrodes and she turned on a light. It was the most incredible thing, she just had to think, she didn't have to move, she didn't have to touch anything with her hands, and she turned on this bright light. It was so amazing to see her smile and to see the ease that came across her, that she didn't have to work hard to play with a toy."

Claire has been using BCI for a few years now and has even been able to use it at home.

"We've had it at home for a year now and we use kitchen utensils, she can make pasta, she blends milkshakes, she can make ice coffee for me, she's included in everything. We started using games and the hospital helped us with how we can set it up and how she can utilize everything we use in our everyday lives. The hospital has been great, they're so inclusive and they help us meet other families that also use BCI, which has been great, Claire has met a few other kids that do the same thing as her."

Sonnenberg says it's removed barriers for Claire that she thought to be immovable prior to learning about BCI.

"Claire has a dice roller, so if we're playing Monopoly or Trouble, she can take her turn and roll her own dice to make around the game and not have to be partnered with someone, so that's absolutely magical. We've also started a new trial, it's called BCI Move. That one's really cool, she gets to go on her wheelchair, and they put it on a trainer, almost like a platform, and when she thinks 'Go,' it actually moves. We had her racing across a gym and racing her brothers on little scooters. That was so fun to see, having all of them laugh running across the gym floor."

This year's lotto will provide more kids like Claire access to BCI.

Over 900 prizes are available, including a $1.4 Million Grand Prize Show Home in Aspen Spring Estates, $100,000 cash, and ten years of exotic vacations.

More information on prizes and tickets can be found on the Children's Hospital Lottery website.