Blood, Sweat and Needles

Off to Albany!

Training means sleeping in a tent out in the rain and camp food...

Training in the Hinterland in heavy downpour means Leeches!

BLOOD, SWEAT & NEEDLES!

You've landed on a page that has found a unique and entertaining way to raise funds to find a cure for T1D. It's centred around one insane Dad just trying to raise money to help those with Type One Diabetes like his daughter. We call this: BLOOD, SWEAT & NEEDLES!

My name is Temira Karcher and I was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes in 2018 just two months before my 18th birthday. It was a frightening experience, especially given that I had never been to the hospital and rarely needed to see a GP prior to my diagnosis. I was in the emergency room  experiencing Diabetic Ketoacidosis and the next thing I knew I was in Intensive Care with doctors telling me I now had this chronic autoimmune disease and walking me through the process of what it meant and what I would have to do from then on. In the beginning I was very good with taking care of myself, but then I experienced diabetes burnout and subsequently had many trips to the hospital, even being in resuscitation a couple of times. At the time it felt like my life was ruined. I had just moved out of home, was in my first year of uni and had my whole life ahead of me. Then, BAM! My diagnosis... I have been back on track with my care this year and smashing it, according to my endocrinologist and diabetes nurse educators. However, I would like to help prevent other Type One Diabetics from making the same mistakes I did.

My Dad, Justin Karcher, has obviously been very worried about me over the last six years. In August 2024 I decided to move back home to be surrounded by the amazing support of my family. Together, Dad and I decided we wanted to do something to raise awareness and funds for T1D but we wanted to do it in a fun way. Being the crazy and wonderful person he is, he has decided to take on the 1002km Bibbulmun Track from Albany on March 12th to Perth on May 5th as his way to raise awareness for T1D. He plans on walking the track end-to-end in 55 days and finishing on May 5th which will also be his 55th birthday. We will be checking in with Dad weekly and posting blogs and updates here weekly too to see how he's doing on the track.

10% of the money we raise will be given back to The Bibbulmun Track Foundation as it is run entirely by volunteers and they are angels for all the work they do in order to maintain and preserve the track. We believe wholeheartedly in giving back to the community and if we can help just one diabetic, a friend of a diabetic or a family member learn a bit more about what we go through and how they can be supportive for their loved one while having a laugh along the way, then we've achieved our goal. We also have a goal of raising $55,000. If you couldn't tell already, we are doing a lot around the number 55!

Come and say hello to us at the JDRF One Walk in Perth on March 9th! Dad and I will both walk the 5 kilometres.

- March 9th 2025 | Dad and I do the 5km JDRF One Walk in Perth

- March 12th 2025 | Dad's 1002km Bibbulmun Track journey begins in Albany, Western Australia

- May 5th 2025 | Dad turns 55 on 05/05/25 so he wants to finish the walk in Perth on his birthday

BLOOD, SWEAT & NEEDLES! Use our QR code to find our fundraising page.