NEWPORT BEACH : Cyclist Finishes Tour to Fight Child Abuse

Jack Winland knows about too many abused children, and he wants the whole country to know about them too.

On Thursday, Winland cycled into MacArthur Court to the very spot where he began a seven-month bike ride around the United States, marking the end--for now--of his quest to raise awareness of child abuse.

“I’ve seen a lot of children suffer in abusive homes,� said Winland, 58. “I wanted to do something about it, so I thought what better way to invest in our kids.�

Last April 17, Winland set off on his 21-speed Cannondale touring bike with a sleeping bag, tent, a couple of T-shirts, road maps and a thermos. Winland, a security guard in the business complex at MacArthur Court, averaged 90 miles per day. Along the way, he passed out Childhelp USA brochures to anyone who would take them and told people to call the national hot line if they were in trouble or knew of someone in trouble.

Ten thousand brochures, dozens of talks and 8,900 miles later, he returned to the open arms of his wife, Karen Winland, friends, co-workers and Childhelp representatives, who greeted him with applause and astonishment.

Unbelievably, Winland said, he has no horror stories to tell of his long journey--only that he got a flat tire but was bailed out by a good Samaritan in Idaho.

He said that he always wore a T-shirt with “Race Against Child Abuse� on the back and that many people would candidly tell him about their abusive childhoods.

“One nurse told me about how her mother broke almost every bone in her body and how she still hates her,� said Winland, who lives in Anaheim Hills. “A couple of parents told me about their best friend who had been sexually abusing their daughters, and some people stopped me on the street to tell me, ‘I’m a survivor of child abuse.’ �

Winland, who served as chaplain of a hospital for children in Nebraska seven years ago, said he encouraged people he met on the road to talk about their pain.

During his journey through 31 states, he stopped at newspaper offices and television and radio stations to spread the word that there is a hot line, (800) 4 A CHILD, that offers crisis counseling and referrals for anyone suffering from abuse or who is abusing children.

Childhelp USA’s hot-line number receives more than 200,000 calls per year, officials said. The nonprofit organization was founded 30 years ago to combat child abuse through treatment, prevention and research.

While Winland’s mission was not to ask for money, Bernice Garron, spokeswoman for Childhelp USA, said several people who received the brochures Winland handed out sent donations, which totaled more than $22,000.

“This man has been so enthusiastic,� she said. “He really put out a tremendous effort making people aware that there is help available four hours a day.�

Now that his trek is over, Winland said, he plans to do it again. But next time, he said, he’s going through all 50 states.