Terri Francis

5 Days to Go!

I’m down to the final 5 days of this journey, with less than 30km left to reach my target and I honestly can’t believe I’m here. What’s blown me away even more than the kilometres covered is the generosity of my friends, family, and supporters. Thanks to you, I’ve already exceeded my donation goal. Every extra dollar from here on still makes a real difference, and I’m incredibly grateful for any further support.

Kidney health and dialysis were things I never gave much thought to for the first 40 years of my life. They were just words, medical terms that belonged to someone else’s world. But when kidney disease touches someone you love, everything changes. You learn. You care more. You act.

Donating a kidney was one of the most personal and powerful decisions I’ve ever made. And now, having gone through that, the reality that I could one day need dialysis myself has become something I can’t ignore. With an average wait time of around 7 years for an O+ kidney donor, the urgency to make a difference, to help put an end to dialysis being a lifelong sentence, is stronger than ever.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

3 Days In: 61km Down and Fundraising Goal Achieved!

Thirteen days into my challenge, and I’ve already clocked 61km — that’s 38% of my 158km target! Things are tracking really well, and I’m thrilled to share that I’ve reached my fundraising goal! A massive thank you to everyone who has supported me so far — your generosity means the world.

That said, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Yesterday, I picked up an injury playing cricket — a suspected quad tear (and they say exercise is good for you 🤣). But despite the setback, I have no plans to slow down. I’m determined to hit that 158km mark and see this challenge through to the end.

Every step I take is for those on dialysis, for patients waiting for a transplant, and for a future where fewer lives are tied to the machine. Even though I’ve hit my fundraising target, all donations from this point will still be greatly appreciated and go directly toward supporting kidney patients across Australia.

Here’s to healing up, keeping pace, and powering through the remaining 97km! 

👉 You can still support the cause here: Red Socks Run 2025 Fundraiser

Kicking Off the Challenge!

The challenge has officially kicked off, and I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s donated so far. Your support honestly means the world! I’ve already clocked 12km, which is about 7% of my goal, and I’m keen to keep banking those kms as I go.

Thinking about my “why” really keeps me moving. Right now, my parents are on their longest trip away since Mum started dialysis almost two years ago. It’s only a week and a half, but it’s such a big deal because it means she’s not tied to that machine twice a week. That bit of freedom is massive for her, and for all of us.

She’s able to do this because I was able to donate a kidney to her. Seeing how much it’s changed her life has been incredible. But I know so many others are still waiting, and for them dialysis is the only option. By taking on this challenge, I’m hoping to raise funds that will go towards finding better solutions for people living with kidney failure, so they too can have more freedom in the future.

Why It Was a No-Brainer

When I first suggested to Mum that she look into kidney donation, I already knew deep down what I was going to do. From the very start, there wasn’t a single moment of hesitation about putting myself forward. It just felt like the natural thing to do.

Dialysis had taken such a toll, not only on Mum, who was spending hours of her life tied to a machine several times a week, but also on Dad and all of us around her. It drained her energy, her time, and her freedom. And as a family, we felt the weight of it too.

For me, the decision to donate was never just about Mum, though of course she was my first thought. My hope was always to help at least one person, whether it was her or someone else, to live without dialysis hanging over their life. To give them the chance to feel free again.

Now, by joining the Red Socks Run, I feel like I can do even more. It’s not just about my kidney donation anymore, it’s about raising awareness and funds so that more people and families get the help they need.

I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who has already donated. Your support means the world, not just to me, but to every person who will benefit from the funds raised. Every donation is a step toward giving someone a better quality of life, and I am so deeply grateful.