Welcome

(April 2012 - I just got my web-page turned back on after being down for a couple years...it has some glitches and needs to be updated, but I'm working on it...thanks for your patience) 

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 the children's charity "Free the Children" to try 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.

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 Free the Children - a very wholesome organization doing amazing things that empowers our kids to go help other children in need throughout the world.

Hailey Lothrop...

Hailey is my beating heart.  Although she is not my child, I could never imagine my life without her.  I fell instantly in love with her when she was 7 months old, and that love has only grown with each new time I get to see her...or even just think about her.  Everything to do with my International Triathlon for Kids journey is because of her.   When I think about all the suffering children around the world, it is Hailey's face who I see; and if she had to endure anything remotely close to what many of the world's children have to go through there's absolutely nothing I wouldn't do to try to make things better for her...including giving my own life just to make sure she is OK.  So, with that in mind, I am doing everything I can to help ease as much suffering as I can for all the Hailey's in our world...Hailey is the seed of love where my International Triathlon for Kids was born.  She is also my strength that pulls me through any obstacles, or pain in my life.

New Video:  Still working on it...wideo done, but has no sound yet...will be finished very, very shortly...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-WrgcRdGxA&feature=youtu.be

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

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 on Athletics Illustrated by Christopher Kelsall--Nov. 30th 2011:

www.athleticsillustrated.com/editorial/steve-archdekin-impossible-is-nothing/

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. 

http://www.bestphotos.ca/SteveArchdekin

My testimonial for Phil (on page 2):

http://www.bestphotos.ca/gallery/6677749_CKCyF

Shirt sales:

While I was racing I had begun selling shirts with my logo on the front to raise some funds to help with this massive project.  They are $20 (Adult) and $15 (Chid).  Please contact me through e-mail if you are interested.

MY SPONSORS...Thank you sooo much!  I have been very fortunate to be blessed with the sponsors I have.  I'm not saying that because I have to, but only because I fully believe it.  I don't accept sponsorship if I don't believe in the product or the people behind them.  My sponsors are the best and I am very grateful for them taking a chance on me!

Fit 2 Race...  Fit 2 Race (www.f2r.com) is a real wholesome company that was inspired from a wonderful source:  The Sockeye Salmon.  It was created by Paul Lundgren.  He has done some incredible things in the water that have never been done before (his current ambition:  www.firstsoloswimseaofcortez.com ).  Paul has stuck with me through my recent 3 year body collapse and i can't say enough good things about him and how he has been to me.  As far as the wetsuits go...I could never swim in the lake under pounding snowstorms without his gear (keep in mind that my body does bad things when it is cold).  Fit 2 Race Wetsuits make all water temperatures a non-existent factor!  You need a wetsuit, look nowhere else...  F2R is all you need!

TitanFlex...  (www.titanflexbikes.com)  After researching this amazing bike for 8 years Tom Piszkin finally told me he would give me.  I couldn't believe it.  This thing is going to save me soooo much pain and enable me to ride for so much longer with more energy.  Tom is another amazing guy.  I can't explain in this short space how touched I was by the way he went about things.  Another person who, sponsorship aside, makes a guy feel suuuper blessed! 

www.athleticsillustrated.com

Christopher Kelsall lives and breathes all things running.  I first contacted him after an interview he did with Simon Whitfield some years ago.  He has since written a few stories about me and been one of my biggest supporters.  He's a great guy, and really promotes a good wholesome, healthy lifestyle...not to mention supporting our athletes.  I encourage everyone to check out his web-page.

Other Links of Interest:

adidas...  No matter how you look at it I belong with these guys.  I have been wearing their shoes all my life (when it comes to the pain in my body footware is something I don't mess around with), and I fit every aspect of what they are about:  "Impossible is Nothing" or "All In" or even their department of Social and Environmental Affairs.  adidas has sponsored me in the past...just have to earn my way back.  www.adidas.ca

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) 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