Motorcycling — The Best Therapy
The Motorcycle Relief Project website.
I used a Biker Quote for Today here a while ago that bears repeating: You never see a motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrist’s office.
Apparently someone decided to combine that idea with the needs of our military veterans who come home psychologically damaged by what they endured. It’s called the Motorcycle Relief Project. (I owe a thank-you to Mark Odette for pointing me to this group.)
What is this group about? Here’s their mission statement.
Motorcycle Relief Project (MRP) is a 501c3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization that provides relief to veterans with PTSD and other injuries by taking them on multi-day motorcycle adventure tours. Our mission is to honor and encourage veterans while providing them with opportunities to decompress, get unstuck, and connect with other veterans.
The group offers what they refer to as “Relief Rides.” Here’s the scoop on those.
Relief Rides are 5-day adventure bike tours in the mountains of Colorado and are specifically designed to provide relief to veterans with PTSD and other invisible injuries. Tours include a combination of on-road and moderate off-road riding. Participants get to ride on some of Colorado’s most scenic two-lane roads as well as some amazing jeep trails and forest roads. A valid motorcycle endorsement that you’ve had for at least a year is mandatory, but no previous off-road experience is required. Rides are controlled with a lead rider in front and a sweep rider in back, and all participants are asked to ride with safety as the main priority.
Riders will cross the Continental Divide several times over the five-day ride. Accommodations will be in mountain lodges, where group members will be able to unwind from the day’s adventures and join in group discussions around the campfire or lodge fireplace. Participants will learn simple techniques for relaxing and dealing with trauma that can help them better manage their internal stress and move toward recovery. A support vehicle will carry participants’ luggage as well as food, tools, etc. Participants in Relief Rides are sponsored by generous donors and corporate sponsors who are concerned about the toll that serving in a combat situation takes on many of the men and women of our armed forces.
Volunteers are a big part of this effort so if you or your riding group want to get involved there are plenty of opportunities.
I could go on but you can read their website as well as I can. This sounds like something a lot of people are going to be interested in.
Biker Quote for Today
Seriously, just get on a bike. Anything that runs. Life is better. — Mark Hoyer
December 4th, 2015 at 11:53 am
Awesome, thanks for the heads-up on this. I’m going to pass this along to my ABATE group here in SW Nebraska, as well as some of the VFW posts in this area and see if we can’t provide some support and also awareness to those that could benefit from it.