A Nelson man who suffers from a rare form of arthritis called Reiter’s Syndrome has raised $725 for the Terry Fox Run.
Steve Archdekin had made an extra commitment to do as many sprint distance triathlons prior to the September run in efforts to raise more funds for the cause. As a result, the day of the Terry Fox Run was his 16th triathlon over four weeks.
Now in his early 40s, Archdekin said his body first fell apart in 1993 when he was 19 years old. As such he can only do sprint distance triathlons because structurally his body won’t allow more. (Sprint distance is 750m swim, 20 km bike, and 5 km run.)
“I can barely hold myself up on my bike, the cold of the lake will also only let me swim so far...plus I have to do it all in flip flops as I can’t reach my feet to put shoes on...which has caused more injuries in my ankles, shins, Achilles tendons and feet."
What drives Archdekin?
When he does triathlons, he says he gets a lot of attention and inspires a lot of people.
“I like to use that to help others...with my main focus on children,” he wrote.
Now that the Terry Fox Run is over he has been using his time and triathlons to try to help raise some money and awareness to help a four year old girl get a treatment to hopefully walk for the first time.
In spite of a rib injury, he keeps going. The change in seasons is adding to the challenge as he says the cold and dark are making it tough.
“As for doctors...they think I am nuts,” Archedekin wrote to the Star, “as with so many others, but I could care less. I know what my body means to me and when it gives me an opening I go for it ‘cause I never know when it is going to completely shut down again...and for how long.”