View GrandpasCan 2024 Letter Here

July 2025

Dear MCF Friend and Supporter,

This will NOT be my (Grandpa Arvid's) typical mid-year fundraising appeal/letter built around another extreme ultra-marathon cycling platform. If you are a long-time MCF supporter, you have received these letters for the last 20 years. I thank you for your incredible support. Things have changed dramatically for me. Allow me to explain.

My days of setting Guinness World Records, or crossing continents by bike, are over. My commitment to help Charles Mulli, however, is as strong as ever. Twenty years of giving everything I (we) have on behalf of the children leaves us with NO regrets, just an even stronger conviction that Mully Children's Family is the Real Deal.

“I know how important and effective the extreme cycling platform continues to be for your work on behalf of destitute children at MCF. You can't do any further damage to your knee. That damage was done over 40 years ago with a soccer injury. If you can tolerate the pain, I would suggest you postpone knee replacement surgery until you can't take it any more. Cycling has and will continue to extend the life of the knee as much as humanly possible.”

Last summer was my last cycling event as I knew I had to have the surgery ASAP. I was walking with a cane and in a lot of pain.

The extended 8 years I got out of my knee was our most successful fundraising time during our 20 years of volunteering on behalf of MCF. With your help, we were blessed to raise an average of $1 million per year during these 8 years. THANK YOU. All of us together continue to be an integral part of MCF. We give God all the Glory.

Twenty years of using the 'extreme cycling' platform has come to an end. We give thanks and praise to God for what He has accomplished from the seat of the bicycle. We also thank God for protection on the road. (During these 20 years I have cycled approximately 350,000 km, including indoor winter training.)

To reach the finish line of any ultra-marathon cycling event, I have learned that, during the most difficult stages, I must allow only one question to occupy my mind: 'Can I still ride?’ If my answer is 'YES' I stay on the bike and eventually reach the finish line.

Today a different question occupies my mind: 'Can I still help Charles and Esther Mulli rescue and raise thousands of orphaned or abandoned children?'

My answer is YES — what is YOURS?

I ask you to join us in praying that, just because this 68-year-old Grandpa can no longer set Guinness World records or cycle crazy distances on a bike, the children at MCF will NOT suffer. This is a huge concern and burden that I carry. Together we can make sure that does not happen.

For the past 20 years, my summer events have filled the 'slow' months of giving. For the sake of the children at MCF, it is very important that this summer giving continues. We all need food 12 months/year.

Thank you so much,

Arvid & Ruth Loewen
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