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Blood, Sweat and Needles

By Temira Karcher Join Me

Please help me reach my goal!

Raised

$16,542

My Goal

$55,000

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Finally finished!!

That’s it folks. Dad finally finished yesterday. 600km+ done in 30 odd days. How crazy is that? He couldn’t do the full 1002km due to bushfires making large sections of the track dangerous and the parks departments closing these sections down to walkers. Only posting today as we really wanted to soak up our time with Dad after finally reuniting with him. We all flew to Perth for the big finish, Breakthrough T1D came out, the mayor came out, council members came out and so did some supporters. Thank you to everyone who supported us along the way and believed in him. Thanks to you guys we have raised $16,330 so far and hope to hit $20,000 by the end of May. So, if you haven’t donated already, please donate. After our pictures together are some of his final pictures he took along the track. One being the fantastic view from the toilet… Definitely beats the view he has now of the regular old bathroom door! GREAT WORK DAD! So proud of you!

Week 5 - 1 Week To Go!

Delayed post this week as Dad only got service to send through some pictures today. Due to the bushfires and having to avoid many campsites, Dad will now be finishing on the 18th of April. Lots of pictures from the last week and many more to come this weekend. While walking from Donnelly River, he found the original Bunnings! No sausage sizzles at this one though… In saying that, Dad reckons his bagged spag bol was fantastic and that he’ll happily eat it when home too! Seems like this stretch of the walk has been the most interesting, as you can see in the photos. In Pemberton there were even some Royal laundromats with state of the art luxury facilities AND a TV! Not long to go now Dad! Keep pushing, you’ve got this!

One Month In - Halfway!

Dad's made it to one month on the track. As you can see in the photos, his beard is really starting to come in... With greys too! I still can't believe he has been walking out in the bush, re-routing his original track plan along the way, seeing pretty much the same scenery (trees, bush and dirt) for the last 4 weeks. At least he has made it past half way now! Photo 7 shows the thorns he has had to try and avoid while trekking along. He also got to get up close and personal with Australia's most famous animal! One tree bridge looks like it was a nice landmark along the way- something different (although it is still a tree out in the middle of the bush). Not long now Dad!

Week 3 - Toenails are disappearing...

3 weeks in and Dad's feet are worse for wear. He's lost 6 toenails and only has 4 left to go... He's doing some insanely long days, bearing 35 degree average temperatures and pushing himself to the limit. Nearly every town in the region he is about to trek into has a name ending in "up." Up means "place of". He's about to go to Balingup, Dwellingup, Buggerup, etc... If you ask me, he's going to some beautiful places of absolute punishment with these weather conditions. See the last picture for the burned trees from the bush fires out there that he's been spotting along the way.

Please continue supporting my Dad along his journey. Thank you to everyone who has donated thus far!

Week 2

Dad’s been using what’s called a “Trekker’s Friend” to help carry all of his supplies during this walk. It’s earned him the nickname of "Trolley Bitch" now. From long stretches of dirt roads to the bush, to the beach, this walk has had him surrounded by nothing but nature. The Giant Tingle Tree he’s standing under reminds me of how small we really are. Dad met a lovely couple in the last week who were kind enough to share a steak dinner with him. In comparison to his gourmet bagged dinners, I can bet that it was a bloody fantastic meal. There will be a heat wave out in WA for the next week, with the average temperature being 35 degrees. I truly wish Dad luck over this next week and hope he doesn’t sweat his pack off! Week 3, done and dusted. We love and miss you Dad!

Check out Dad's social media for updates there too!

Massive Trees Incoming!

Dad has finally gotten signal today and managed to send through this picture of him standing inside a massive tree. Incredible! He has been faring well and we all love when we have the chance to talk to him on the phone when he has signal. He let us know he met a lovely couple on the track and has even shared a nice hot dinner with them! A hot meal is not something Dad has had very much since he started his walk with his matches getting drenched and not lighting properly... We love you Dad and we're so proud of you!

More obstacles than expected....

Dad has been keeping us up to date with how he's been going when he can. Today we received a picture he finally snapped of one of the many snakes he has seen along his walk. He has pushed himself so incredibly hard, walking almost 60km in one day because he couldn't find his camp site, it was pitch black, pouring down with rain and he almost stepped on THREE black snakes while trying to find this camp site... He said once he got into town the next day, he drank 3 cans of Fanta. To replenish some of the energy he has lost from walking so much and one can for each snake he saw the night before.... As there have been bushfires going on in Western Australia, it has meant my Step Mum and I have been trying to do our best to find him alternative routes and we have all tried to work together, using Dad's satellite phone and limited messages, to completely re-plan this walk... We'll see how the next chapter goes... You've got this Dad! We're all routing for you!! 

Off to Albany!

Today we said "Goodbye" to Dad as he set off, after Cyclone Alfred caused our flights to be cancelled and moved, for Albany to begin The Bibbulmun Track! In three days' time he will begin his 55-day challenge to raise money and awareness for us Type One Diabetics. I am so utterly proud and beyond grateful for this sacrifice he is making for me. I love you Dad and we'll see you on May 5th at the end of it all! Not sure if we'll recognise you....

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

Dad has once again been caught out in the rain, but he sent me this imagine of his tent set-up and dinner before the rain came down. I hope she's staying safe, warm and dry out there!

Training in the Hinterland in heavy downpour means Leeches!

Dad went up into the Hinterlands a couple of weeks ago to train for his upcoming walk and half way into his trek, he got caught in heavy downpour. Imagine being in the middle of nowhere, not a soul to be seen, it is now raining incredibly hard, you have 20kgs of items in a backpack on your bag, there are leeches covering your body and you're still hours away from the beginning of the track...

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.

My Achievements

Thank you to my Supporters

$4.62k

Southport Sharks Fatty & Sterlo Event

$2k

Hard Hat Watches

Keep up the great work!

$1.22k

Graeme Devin

$1.02k

Anonymous

Enjoy

$700

Coffs Harbour Racing Club

All the best legend!!

$555.55

Kfc - Asia And Corea

$515

Anonymous

$500

Club Maitland City- Stuart Kelly

All the best!

$500

Elite Aqua Pty Ltd

$500

Hard Hat Watches

Good on you for supporting such an important cause, and good luck Justin!!

$400

Withcott Hotel

$312.90

Yvette Treasure Caloundra Rsl

$263.75

Murray Murdoch

$260.75

The Conway’s

Hoping all goes well on the trek and a great idea to create awareness for Type 1 Diabetes.

$208.60

Sj Yoon

$208.60

Scott Jacob

Good Luck mate! Hope it all goes well...🚶

$206.20

Ellmen Kennedy

All the best for the walk, Justin! You are a wonderful dad.

$158.25

Bret Blackmore

Inspirational! 💪🏻

$106.12

Janelle Menzies

How amazing both yourself and your dad are !!!! Our amazing grandson is type 1 and we are so proud of him 🥰 good luck on your trek !!!!🥰

$106.12

Anonymous

A special girl deserves an extraordinary parent that will go walk thru fire to save his kid. May you get all the support and reach your goal.

$106.12

David Conway

Better late than never Justin

$106.12

Buffy Schieb

Keep walking mate, take care.

$106.12

Donovan Vandenbrink

$106.12

Lim Geuna

Send love to Karcher family.

$106.12

Scott Roberts

Stay Safe.

$106.12

Fluffy

Love you always sister ❤️❤️❤️❤️

$106.12

Mark Stafford

Nice work Justin, I'm glad you made it back, Mother Nature is a formidable force A great thing to do, self-sacrifice for the benefit of others.

$106.12

Graham Grant

Take care out there mate.. we all miss you at Tennis .. cheers Graham 😊

$106.12

Peter Mills

You guys are awesome. I hope plenty of dad jokes from this adventure

$106.12

Andrew Reichard

Your dad is a champion Lucky girl

$105.50

Robert Hancock

Make sure he walks the entire length lol

$105.50

Anonymous

Hope you're walking behind Dad cracking the whip!!

$100

Rosie & Greg Miller

Just spent the day with your Dad hiking on the Bibb. He is doing great, him and his trail bitch aka the trolley. Sends his love.

$58.61

Sharon Elliot

Amazing effort Justin. Hope it all helps Temira xx

$58.02

Temira Karcher

$55

Uvie A

I’m so proud of you and how far you’ve come since your diagnosis. Excellent idea to raise awareness or T1D and raise funds!

$54.12

Ah

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

$54.12

Hyun Joo Lee

You’re doing an amazing job! It’s a small contribution, but I hope it helps. Wishing you success in reaching your goal!

$54.12

Rita & Wayne Pearce

$54.12

Anonymous

Good luck, stay strong.

$54.12

Miss-jade Kilshaw

Amazing cause & amazing family!

$54.12

Jayden Lawson

Massive effort Justin!! Very inspiring!

$52.92

Lillian Bentley

Great cause! Let’s hope someone finds a cure for this disease. What an awesome dad xx

$52.92

Taylor Akmentins

$50

Debo Naru

Proud to support this amazing journey.

$50

Mihyang Kim Karcher

I will always be cheering for you!!. You got this!!

$27.81

Anonymous

Great cause, amazing effort!

$27.81

Azza

Thankyou!

$27.81

Bert Hier

$17.16

Maryanne Phillips

Well done. A great effort for a great cause

$15

Shannon Barry

This is amazing Temira!

My Team Members