Pine Rest Iowa Social Worker to Begin Transcontinental Bicycle Tour June 15

-FUNDS RAISED DURING TREK FROM OREGON TO MASSACHUSETTS WILL HELP PEOPLE
NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND ALSO COVER GAPS OF INSURANCE COVERAGE-

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.

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 a safe community of grace and
truth. Finally, Pine Rest staff members have been excellent mentors and
models of the concepts we're learning and sharing."

Although a transcontinental bike ride is a different challenge, Meuzelaar has
selected the title of a song called "Pressing On" from a CD entitled "The
Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan" and performed by Chicago Mass Choir as the theme
song for his bicycle tour. Meuzelaar believes that Bob Dylan's imagery in the
song suggests this is a journey filled with challenges and in the face of
them, rather than being diverted or quitting, the singer experiences a higher
calling. The song suggests that even in adversity, there is hope and the
ultimate achievement of a goal, similar to what persons with mental illness
face in their daily lives.

"People who choose Pine Rest are on a journey of change. Sometimes, the big
uphill changes may be like cycling through a Rocky Mountain pass. Other times,
the stage of change may be more like riding the rolling terrain of the Great
Plains. We all cycle and recycle the journey of change and learn about
ourselves in the process," said Cal Meuzelaar.

"I have found that my colleagues provide compassion for each and every
individual whom they serve. It has also been my experience that there have
been a significant number of our clients who report they have sought us out
because of the reputation of our excellent staff and their confidence in how
we practice," said Karen Bauerle.

Meuzelaar is excited about the prospect of gaining support of many individuals
who believe in giving back to the community through sponsorships received for
the bicycle tour. To date, Marion County State Bank, VanMaanen & Associates,
P.C., Brom Auto, Tripp Law Office, P.C., and Vermeer Manufacturing have signed
on as sponsoring businesses for the bicycle tour.

"Supporting the Renewing Spirits Bike Tour across America is as natural as
breathing. I have a shared passion for cycling across things and places. So,
the event makes it easy to be involved. The mission of giving hope and help
and initiating healing to those in need, however, makes it impossible not to
join Cal's tour financially," said Timothy Tripp, lawyer with Tripp, P.C. law
firm of Pella, Iowa.

To give insight into the need for mental health treatment services, over the
past five years there have been nearly 64,000 outpatient visits at Pine Rest's
two Iowa Clinic sites.

Anyone interested in making a donation or serving as a sponsor may contact Cal
Meuzelaar directly by calling: 641/628-9599, or toll-free at:
1/800-274-9278.

For further information about Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services,
interested persons should visit the organizational website at:
http://www.pinerest.org.

SOURCE Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Pam Mettler, Director of Marketing & Community Relations of Pine Rest
Christian Mental Health Services, P: +1-616-630-1398, O: +1-616-281-6363,
ext. 2033