When Keith Helfrich retired from Fort Carson’s 10th Special Forces Group in 2013, he was struggling to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and the effects of a traumatic brain injury.
“I was at place in my life where I didn’t want to go anywhere, didn’t want to do anything, didn’t want to get out of the house,” said Helfrich, 50, who retired as a sergeant major. During his 26 years in the Army, he deployed to Iraq four times and earned a Bronze Star Medal.
Then Helfrich was invited to go on the 2016 Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis, S.D., a multiday ride for amputees and wounded veterans. He wasn’t sure he wanted to go, but the ride’s founder flew out to Texas, where Helfrich lives, to persuade him.

by: Mike Kretz

CLIFTON, Colo. –
“Motorcycle Therapy” might not be widely acknowledged by medical doctors. But, David Frey, founder of Veterans Charity Ride swears by it.

by Matt Kopec

Salt Lake City, Utah (July 10, 2019) – Indian Motorcycle®, America’s first motorcycle company, today announced its continuing support and sponsorship of the fifth annual Veterans Charity Ride (VCR) to Sturgis. The veteran operated non-profit organization uses “motorcycle therapy” to help fellow veterans readjust to civilian life. The 2019 ride will feature a record number of female veterans, who will be sharing their decorated military careers and passion for motorcycles with their peers.
This year’s ride to Sturgis will take off on July 25, 2019 from Salt Lake City, Utah, winding through the famous Pikes Peak range in Colorado before making it to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. The group will be riding a variety of Indian Motorcycle models with custom-built Champion Sidecars for amputee and paraplegic veterans. The journey not only delivers the freedom of the open road and cathartic experience only a motorcycle can deliver but allows the veterans to bond by sharing stories and engage in peer-to-peer discussions.