The trip helped me to take stock and appreciate what I have in my life. It helped to empty my mind of all the junk that was stuck up there. It gave me a peace I have been looking to find for the last decade and it has truly helped me to finish my healing process. So I’ve been home from this adventure for over a week now. What a trip! |
I was going through a really hard time. I was at rock bottom… with almost twelve years of active service, all served in the time of war, during which I suffered multiple combat injuries, and was awarded two Purple Hearts for being wounded in action. Once I left the Marines, I found myself without an identity, dealing with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and many other physical injuries. |
I am a 43 year old combat vet that just graduated from college. After graduation I was lost. Years spent in the Army, and then years spent in medical hold followed by a divorce and about 2 years sitting on my ass feeling sorry for myself. After graduation I was right back feeling sorry for myself. This trip was just going to be a get-away from the couch…At the end of the two weeks I knew I had changed. I was more focused, more open, and just happier. I continue to relive the experiences with friends and family. I hope to return next year in whatever capacity they will have me. |
After losing both of my legs in Afghanistan I had no idea what mobility would look like for me let alone any sort of fun activities anymore…Once I was fitted for prosthetics I tried to go and engage in the activities I had always wanted to, but never had. |
My “go to” defense for my PTSD has been avoidance. I really struggled with crowds and being around, and interacting with other people…avoidance and isolation became my remedy. Years of behaving this way has solved none of my problems, and in avoiding everything in life, I’m missing out on so much of it. Going on this trip forced me to engage the group, the unknown locations, and the crowds of people daily, and helped me to see the good that so many were trying to do for us. It wasn’t just OK to be around everyone, but it actually felt good too. The trip and my time in Moab, helped make a significant change in the way I see my surrounding world, which in turn had a profound change on how I’ve decided to continue to live my life. I was again able to brave the crowds, the confined space, and the rest of the triggers around me, and attend my son’s school band performance… for my son, I had no idea how much it would mean to him, he was so proud to have us there. Thank you for your help in changing the way I live the rest of the life I’ve been given, meeting you all, and spending time riding together really showed me a better way. |
I want to thank you for all you’ve done for our family. We started with just an invitation to come on this trip and experience this program, has developed lifelong friendships, amazing memories, and a forever support system for me as well as my family. The healing and happiness I’ve experienced in this short period of time takes me to a place I never thought I’d be again. |
I knew us helping each other was the deal with this trip. What I didn’t know was how much support we were going to get from so many. There was so much love shared from every community we traveled through. It was so overwhelming to feel so appreciated by so many. This was the first and biggest revelation to ease my apprehension of moving from military life. My transition has still not been easy but I have such a wonderful group of peers to look back on for my inspiration or call and get a little push over the hurdles. Everyone has been a peer, a leader, a mentor and a friend to me. |
In October of 2007, while deployed to Mosul, Iraq, I had my left leg blown off below the knee. I tried to build myself back up by participating in activities like Scuba diving, snowboarding, and softball. However these proved only to be superficial distractions from the mental agony I felt. Despite my best efforts, I was losing the mental battle and grew to have a jaded, love/hate relationship with all aspects of my life. |
To say this trip was an amazing adventure would be an understatement. It is not just the motorcycles, or the destination that made it great, rather, being given the opportunity for veterans to come together and heal. After all of the injuries, deployments, and years in the hospital, the veterans in this group were brought together so they could once again live life to the fullest. It is an outlet, a necessary avenue towards the healing process. I believe that every veteran needs something they can turn to when times get tough. This group brings a constructive outlet to veterans by getting them out of solitude and experiencing all that makes this country worth fighting for. |
CONTACT |