Cycling philanthropist finishes another gruelling race
ANNAPOLIS, MD—In spite of sleep deprivation, extreme heat, rain storms and an injured knee, Winnipeg ultra-marathon cyclist and philanthropist Arvid Loewen finished Race Across America (RAAM) on Sunday, June 23.
Rated as the world's most rigorous and challenging bicycle race, RAAM spans the United States from coast to coast, beginning in Oceanside, California and ending in Annapolis, Maryland. Competitors have just 12 days to complete the 4,765-kilometre journey. Loewen placed third in the 50-59 age category, finishing the race in 11 days, 20 hours and eight minutes.
Loewen is using the race to raise awareness of, and money for, Mully Children's Family (MCF), a street mission in Nairobi, Kenya that helps thousands of needy children. Before 2013 is over, Loewen will have raised somewhere between $300,000 and $400,000 for MCF this year alone.
"I'm at a place in life on a personal level where if I want less [material possessions], I can do so much more," the 56-year-old said by phone the day after finishing the race. "I can give so much more. I actually receive everything, and 'everything' to me in this case is knowing that I made a difference."
Loewen slept an average of just two hours each day during the race, cycling at times through 40 degree heat. With four days left to go in the race, he injured his left knee, which made hill climbs more difficult than usual. Knowing he had the prayer support of many people helped him persevere.
In a video his support crew uploaded to YouTube on June 22, Loewen explained that giving up during RAAM would be symbolic of giving up on the children MCF helps. He added that he wants to inspire others—particularly people who are retirement age—to think about how they can perhaps give up some of their own comfort to help the less fortunate.
"Think about the difference you can really make to a child today somewhere in the world, and maybe even your next door neighbour," he said in the video.
A member at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church in Winnipeg, Loewen resigned from his position in senior management with Palliser Furniture in 2006 to volunteer full-time to create awareness and raise funds for MCF. In 2008, he won his age category in RAAM. In 2011, he set a Guinness World Record for the fastest bicycle cross of Canada, cycling 6,040 kilometres in 13 days, six hours and 13 minutes.
By the end of the year, Loewen will have raised more than $2.5 million for MCF.
"The whole idea is that [everyone] can make a difference," he said.
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