Welcome

My name is Steve Archdekin. My International Triathlon for Kids is a huge journey I am taking to try to raise funds and awareness for various children's charities to help as many kids around the world as possible. A happy healthy child is such a beautiful gift, and it breaks my heart to know of all the hardship so many kids have had to suffer globally. I am going to do what I can to make a difference through my International Triathlon for Kids.

I plan to swim, ride my bike, and run across Canada, then around USA (including Hawaii), Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe to raise funds and awareness for the children’s charities he has chosen. Some have thought that this means he was going to go around to these countries competing in triathlons, but that is not the case. When I say I am going to swim/bike/run around these countries, I mean that I am going to cover all the ground myself under my own power. Whenever I find swimmable water I will swim, and the rest of the time I will be on my bike or running (I will absolutely compete in triathlons along the way if they coincide with my course and timing—I will rarely turn down the chance to do a triathlon.). I will also be stopping at children’s hospitals and schools along the way to say hello to the kids.

My Vision... is to see that as many children as possible in the world get what they so rightly deserve…the chance to simply be healthy happy kids, able to freely run, jump and play with no worries...just like the conastant shining light in my life: Hailey.

My Mission... is to manifest my vision by raising funds and awareness for the children’s charities I have chosen which will benefit kids throughout the world.

My International Triathlon for Kids bio video (until it is properly posted): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvFNt8lOvHM

This is Hailey Lothrop... She means more to me than anyone. She can stop me in my tracks no matter what she does (or what I'm doing.)... Hailey is the inspiration behind my International Triathlon for Kids. Absolutely every aspect of this is because of, and for her. When I think about all the children suffering in the world, it's Hailey's face I see who is suffering, and that quite literally hurts my heart when I think about it. I can't sit by and do nothing with that thought in my mind, so I am going to do what I can to help all the Hailey's in the world through my tri-for-kids journey. I have sacrificed everything in my life for it, and although it is going to be real hard on my body as well, it's beyond worth it because it's all for Hailey. Every decision I make surrounding this is done with a picture of her in my mind. If I don't feel something would be ok with (for) her then I won't do it. Hailey is my good conscience... She is also my source of strength and courage for all of this...and I will be thinking about her every day throughout this epic journey. Thank you Hailey...There is no way I could do this without you. I love you beyond words... (Hailey is also the one who drew my logo for me. I feel indestructable with it on my chest...It is like my Superman patch. Sweet!)

Left to right: Me in my new stylin' Fit 2 Race wetsuit with my Superman patch on my chest (For some reason the logo is a bit distorted when I uploaded the photo...bummer) before the Wasa Lake triathlon on June 15th; me before the race in Vernon on July 6th; on my driveway with my doggie, Honey Bear (Dec 2007...photo by Phil Best: www.bestphotos.ca).

Links to photo galleries, etc...

Story by Christopher Kelsall--Sunday April 13 2008:

This is the link to the most recent article written about me. Christopher writes an excellent story:

http://www.flocasts.org/flotrack/articles.php?id=365

Photo Galleries by Phil Best photography: As Phil has started to document me consistently he has created my own file on his web-page with the links to each photo gallery.

June 4th 2008: Getting my bike re-fitted to ride with cast-like thing.

December 6th 2007: Pulling a rocking chair up the mountain to my cabin.

August 5th 2007--Nelson BC Triathlon

http://best.smugmug.com/Steve%20Archdekin

2007 Never Quit Award Nomination:

www.toyotaneverquit.com

**Go to “Stories” and look for “No Pain, No Gain” on the second page.

Road Crew:

I am now currently looking for my 2 person support crew to come with me during my trip. I will post more information shortly. Please contact me for details.

Shirt sales:

I have just begun selling shirts with my logo on the front to help raise some more funds for this massive project. I will have a PayPal link up shortly. Shirts are $20. I do any size for adults or kids. Please contact me if you are interested. Aside from contacting me, my shirts are also available at:

-Abacus Beads on Kootenay Street in Nelson, BC

-Bubbys ice cream and yam fries at the Playmor Junction (1/2 way between Nelson and Castlegar, BC). Check my blog for more on Bubbys: http://www.triathlonforkids.org/node/32

Spirit & Determination Award:

I will be bringing a trophy and a medallion at every race I go to. It is called the "Spirit & Determination Award" and is awarded to the athlete who transcends adversity to race. I feel that just as it is important to recognize those who win races, it is also important to recognize those who race despite tremendous barriers. At each race I go to I will donate a medallion for an individual to take home, and have a bigger trophy that I will have each winner's name engraved on. I will donate the trophy to Triathlon BC at the end of the season. I have my race calendar posted on the bottom of my goals page. There are people rising above many challenges at every race (no matter how big or small the event), so If you know of anyone who may deserve this award who will be at any of the races I am scheduled to be at please contact me (I will need help finding the right people to present the award to). I hope you can help me bring some inspiring stories out to the open for all of us to hear.

MY SPONSORS...Thank you sooo much!

adidas... With the philosophy "Impossible is Nothing" I felt I fit right in there somewhere. I was lucky enough to stumble onto the e-mail address for an adidas rep (Darren Mealing) in March or April. I met him in person at the 2008 Vancouver marathon. Now I have some sweet adidas on my feet to race with...and I'm all too psyched. www.adidas.ca

Fit 2 Race... Fit 2 Race is a real wholesome company that was inspired from a wonderful source: The Sockeye Salmon. It is owned and operated by amazingly kind people who took the leap of faith to sponsor me. I am so grateful and excited beyond words to be a part of their team: www.f2r.com

PowerBar... I don't know how many years I have been eating them now (at least since the late 90's), but PowerBar is the only energy bar I have ever eaten, or ever will eat as it is the only one I trust (I like chocolate Harvest Bars the best). I told this to the PowerBar rep (Frank Lucarelli) at the Vancouver Marathon Sponsorship Expo, as well as a bit about who I am and what I am up to, then finished by asking them to sponsor me...but if they didn't I would just buy and eat PowerBar's anyway. Frank is a super nice guy and is into what I am doing, and now I find myself super psyched to have PowerBar as one of my sponsors: www.powerbar.ca

Vega/Sequel Naturals... I met the rep (Anthony Rosenfeld) for Sequel Naturals at the 2008 Vancouver marathon. After telling him about my International Triathlon for Kids he agreed to send me some of the Vega plant based products to try out. I was psyched because I had heard a lot of good things about them... A few weeks later I got some boxes in the mail. My energy has picked up and my insides have been dancing ever since... Yahoooo for Vega! www.myvega.com

Other Links of Interest:

Triathlon BC makes it possible for me to live my dreams, and my International Triathlon for Kids would not be possible without TriBC's support: www.tribc.org

My hometown race in Nelson, BC (Cyswog'N Fun on August 3rd in 2008) is where my triathlon life all began...They are my biggest supporters. I have bled my soul out on that course... Everyone should try our race at least once. Past winners have commented that it is almost hard to pay attention to what you're doing because of how beautiful of a course it is. It will always be my home race no matter where life takes me. Always! www.trinelson.com

Friends who are also doing some amazing things with similar end results as my International Triathlon for Kids. You should really check out what they are up to as well: