Telethon, Blueprint Homes and Satterley are thrilled to introduce our 2024 Telethon Home Ambassador, 12-year-old Karter.
Karter, who lives with his family just a stone’s throw away from this year’s Telethon Home, is the most cheeky, charismatic kid you could meet with a smile that lights up the room. Like most boys his age, Karter loves football, video games, Star Wars and pizza!
Telethon Home Ambassador, Karter.
Karter’s journey hasn’t been easy. At 30 weeks pregnant, Karter’s mum suffered a cardiac event, leading to an emergency procedure to restart her heart. When Karter was born at 37 weeks, his parents knew something wasn’t quite right.
From a young age, Karter’s parents knew something wasn’t quite right.
After seven years of hospital visits, tests, and changing diagnoses, it was discovered that the event during pregnancy had caused Karter to suffer a brain injury, resulting in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and a movement disorder called dystonia.
In addition, Karter has been diagnosed with autism and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which causes severe fatigue, pain, inability to regulate body temperature, joint dislocations, and sudden drops in blood pressure. These complex conditions have prevented him from enjoying many typical childhood experiences like attending school, making friends, and participating in sports.
Despite these challenges, Karter has found solace with the Ellenbrook Dockers Starkick team, an all-abilities football program supported by Telethon. Catering to children ages 5-17, Starkick’s mantra is simple: “If you want to play, we’ll find a way.”
According to his parents, Karter’s happiest moments are on Sundays, playing football with his team and coaches.
“Starkick has saved our little boy’s life. He has found joy, friendship, belonging and community that he never had before,” mum Kat said. “He has experienced acceptance and love from his teammates and coaches and he pushes himself every week to achieve everything in the sessions.”
Karter is happiest playing with his Starkick team, the Ellenbrook Dockers
Karter is no stranger to other Telethon beneficiaries over the years as well, being supported by Autism Association of WA, KIIND, Perth Children’s Hospital as well as being a whizz on the court for Rebound WA’s wheelchair basketball Youth Spinners team to name a few.
“We have used so many of the Telethon beneficiaries who have truly saved our family,” Kat said. “We have made lifelong connections and gained invaluable support for our boy, and they have held us together more than I can remember.”
Living close to the 2024 Telethon Home project, Karter and his family enjoy the lifestyle the region offers. This year’s Telethon Home, being built by Blueprint homes on a 762sqm block in Satterley’s Clementine Estate in Upper Swan, boasts incredible semi-rural living opportunities for families. All proceeds from the sale of the home will be donated to Telethon.
The Telethon Home project is central to the annual Telethon Weekend fundraising and has contributed more than $28 million to Telethon since 2004. Last year’s Telethon Home raised an incredible $1,000,000 for the cause.
Thanks to Blueprint Homes and Satterley, the proceeds from the sale help raise vital funds to support Telethon’s 136 charity beneficiaries and create better and brighter future for children like Karter, across Western Australia.