Every single part of Steve Archdekin's afflicted body hurts like hell. From his head to his toes, his knees, elbows, hips, ankles, shoulders, neck, his entire skeleton aches all time. His face, skull, toes and nose are in a constant state of pain. Well except for his nose. "The only place on my body that doesn't hurt is my nose; I have long since forgotten what it is like to simply not hurt."

Steve's face hurts when he smiles, but he smiles all the time, especially in the middle of a triathlon. His tendons hurt too; his muscles, connective tissue, ligaments, cartilage and organs are in a constant state of pain. "I can feel my kidneys hurt." Steve tells the media at the Kelowna Apple Triathlon.

Despite the pain, Steve Archdekin is going to swim, cycle and run around North America, including Hawaii, for selected children's charities. Why, you may ask? Because he sees his life as a gift. Visit his site and his charity Triathlon for Kids.

33 years ago, he was supposed to die within 24 hours of his birth with a condition called Hyaline Membrane Syndrome. Of course he didn't die. Growing up in Wasaga Beach, Ontario he led a relatively normal and very active, sport-oriented childhood. In September 1993 at the age of 19, he picked up a common cold that progressed. It progressed to the point where he could barely move by Christmas. From it, he developed a rare form of arthritis called Reiter's Syndrome. He was told there is no cure and would be suffering for the rest of his life. Since then, Steve has developed another form of arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and has picked up other issues along the way including Osteoporosis.

Steve lives in a forested and mountainous area near Nelson, BC. Despite his situation he refuses to give in. For example, to get anywhere from his cabin, he must walk 1.5km or snowshoe to his truck. Sometimes he does this trek through waist deep snow. "One of my favorite things to do is walk with my dog to the meadow down the path from my cabin, deep in the bush, and just watch the mountains be mountains."

The two year triathlon for charity:

By June 2009, Archdekin is going to begin a triathlon trek starting from his hometown in Nelson, BC that will take him eastward, across Canada to Newfoundland, by late summer. Steve is going to triathlon around Asia-Pacific too! "After I am done in the Hawaiian Islands, I am off to Japan for a few weeks on my way to Australia and New Zealand for the winter months."(their summer of course). The only break he has planned is during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The day after the Olympics are over he will be heading back down to the Southern United States to pick up where he left off. The entire trip will take the better part of 2 years. "The only thing that will cut this journey short is if my skeleton starts to crumble. I won't let the pain I already have swirling within my body stop me. If it works out that I run my body right into the ground to help save one child, it will all be worth it."

Steve will be doing 17-18 triathlons in 2008 to prepare himself physically and mentally. He will start his season off at the Vancouver Marathon. Steve confides, "even though I can't really run, I do more of a stagger-stumble and I only do it on race day as otherwise it hurts too much. I will have no running training whatsoever for the marathon, which will be my first, so it should basically kill me."

When Steve runs in a triathlon, he limps along. His stumble makes him look a little like Yoda, after an extended, light sabre battle. Because the triathlon ends with the run, he literally stumbles into standing ovations at every triathlon. I assume that is more than he needs to make it into the chute, in the vertical position. In the swim portion, Steve can be seen spy hopping for a line, treading water vertically to get his bearings correct. "I swim like how a sailboat tacks, zig-zagging across the course."

 It is on the bike where he gets a bit of a respite and enjoys the speed of the fast athletes ripping past him. Perhaps Steve Archdekin's situation is an opportunity to inspire others to do great things too. "I have AIDS and you just made me realize how lucky my life is," said a fellow competitor who was trying to assist Steve at the Kelowna Apple Triathlon. Steve appreciates the kindess, but there is nothing anyone can do for him, "I'm fine, it's only arthritis. There's nothing anyone can do for me."

This is his refrain he repeats throughout races, to hold back well-meaning volunteers and passers-by.

If you are in BC this summer and you see Steve ambling along, give an extra cheer, to support his cause. Donations and sponsorship can be made at his website Triathlon for Kids

Photo Credits: Phil Best Best Photos

Photo Credit: Rumon Carter, Photographer

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Contact Chris: chriskelsall@flocasts.org