Arvid Loewen may be 55, but that’s not stopping him from riding across the country for a second time.

Loewen, a North Kildonan resident who set a new world record last year for riding from Vancouver City Hall to Halifax City Hall, set out last week to do it again.

He departed Vancouver on July 3 and is hoping to break the record of 13 days, six hours, and 13 minutes he set last year.

Loewen — a grandfather of five with number six on the way — is also hoping to break the World Records Academy record for biking to St. John’s, N.L.

"Last year when I did the ride I was riding with a severe case of arthritis in my left hip. Since that time I’ve had a hip replacement, so I feel much better," Loewen said.

"I think that record needs to come down to under 13 days. I will ride very aggressively, and I do believe I have a chance."

The cross-country trek isn’t only about records, but also providing a better life for orphaned and abandoned children in Kenya.

Loewen hopes to raise $375,000 on the trip for the Mully Children’s Family Charitable Foundation, a registered Canadian charity based in Collingwood, Ont.

The MCF was founded in 1989 by Dr. Charles Mulli, a former street child, who runs the largest home for orphaned kids in Kenya.

Loewen will also use this year’s trip to promote the new book Hope for the Hopeless, written by East St. Paul resident Paul Boge, who also wrote Father to the Fatherless, a story about Mulli’s experiences.

The book tells the story of some of the young people who have been touched by MCF and the impact they’re making in society now.

"When I heard this book was going to be ready there was no better way than a fast-paced promotion tour across Canada," Loewen said.

"I am bringing seven of these young people, some of whom stories are in the book. They are on my support crew."

Boge said after writing Father, Mulli approached him about writing a new book on the children in Kenya.

"He wanted to put faces to names for the kids in Kenya," Boge said.

MCF executive director Frank Tilley said the organization is grateful to Loewen for his efforts to help children in Kenya.

"He’s inspirational. It’s unbelievable that anybody could push themselves to the extremes he is," Tilley said.

Loewen said there’s no way of knowing what will happen on the road, but the important thing is for those impacted by the events in Kenya to have an opportunity to tell their story.

"It’s a pretty incredible platform because these young people have some incredible stories to tell," he said.

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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com