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DES MOINES, Iowa, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mindful of people who need financial support to access needed mental health counseling plus assistance with covering gaps of insurance coverage due to the current socio-economic crisis, Cal Meuzelaar -- social worker and director of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services' Iowa Outpatient Clinics -- is set to begin a transcontinental bicycle tour on June 15 and is dedicating his efforts toward raising $100,000 for clients.
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When Meuzelaar embarks on his journey, dubbed the "Renewing Spirits Bicycle Tour," he will ride 80 miles each day along a northern route that begins in Florence, Oregon and ends in Salem, Massachusetts. He estimates covering some 4,000 miles of country by riding 15 miles per hour, over an eight-week time frame, to complete the journey. Meuzelaar's wife, Mary, will drive along in a support vehicle.
"One of the main goals for this tour is to raise funds for men, women and children who access services at the Pine Rest Iowa Clinics and I am currently seeking charitable donations through the form of sponsorships for this tour," said Cal Meuzelaar, a long time bicycle enthusiast and participant in century rides plus the Annual Great Ride Across Iowa.
Money has begun coming in and Meuzelaar is encouraging persons to donate to the cause by clicking on the following link at Pine Rest's "Renewing Spirits Bicycle Tour" website: http://www.pinerest.org/services/outpatient/renewing-spirits/renewing-spirits-donation.asp.
"Through 25 years as a clinical mental health therapist, I've seen people's needs for help with mental health issues grow. In fact, their desires for emotional hope and healing have never been greater. In order to restore hope and experience healing, families, married couples and individuals of all ages need to have access to these types of services when they need them," said Cal Meuzelaar.
Funds raised during the bicycle tour will help Meuzelaar and his staff of 25 clinical and administrative professionals provide mental health care for persons having difficulties knowing just where to go for this type of help. Funding also will provide therapy to people of all ages, prepare young people for marriage and provide support to pastors. Plus, monies will also offer delinquent kids a new start and help adoptive parents handle tough challenges of parenting, along with other charitable services.
"As a mental health professional, I was searching for the opportunity to work as a clinician in a Christian faith-based environment. I believe that each member of our clinical team is committed to our core values and to our mission statement and have found my colleagues also to be committed in the provision of their services with professional excellence and Christian integrity," said Karen Bauerle, LISW, Pine Rest Des Moines Clinic.
Meuzelaar estimates that this year alone, the Pine Rest Iowa clinics will serve more than 2,000 people. Many who need and use mental health services are unable to meet the costs. Meuzelaar reports these individuals are deeply grateful for the generous community that helps make hope, help and healing a reality.
"I've participated in many continuing education experience in 25 years of local church ministry, including pastor's book discussion groups and a unit of clinical pastoral education," said John Ottley, pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Des Moines, Iowa. "The Pine Rest discussion group ranks right at the top for at least three reasons. First, the choice of reading material was superb. Second, discussing ministry-related issues with a group of ministers is rich and rare because we participate in
