Veterans Charity Ride (VCR) is a veteran-led 501(c)(3) that centers healing on “Motorcycle Therapy”—group rides paired with camaraderie, mentorship, and holistic aftercare for wounded, severely injured, and amputee veterans. The nonprofit describes its mission as delivering life-changing, life-saving programs through motorcycle experiences tailored to veterans from every branch of service. Conceived by Army paratrooper Dave Frey during a solo trip to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2014 and launched the following year with support from Indian Motorcycle and Champion Sidecars, VCR was created “by veterans for veterans” to translate the therapeutic benefits of riding into sustained recovery.
What happens at the event
The Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis is an immersive, multi-day therapy adventure—not a simple tour. Participants ride scenic backroads, share meals and stories, and join skills workshops, peer-to-peer conversations, and small-town community stops that reconnect them with a supportive public. Amputee riders often team with experienced pilots in Champion sidecars for accessibility and confidence building. Since 2015, VCR reports helping more than 170 veterans from across the services through its rides and programs, reinforcing the event’s measurable reach.
Program design and partners
A hallmark of VCR is continuity: alumni are invited into ongoing outreach and mentorship, and families are integrated where possible. Indian Motorcycle has been a consistent backer, supplying motorcycles, logistics, and national visibility. In May 2024, the partners marked a decade of collaboration with a Memorial Day reunion and a published schedule that included therapy rides based out of Salt Lake City and Moab and participation at the Indian-sponsored Durango Rendezvous—signaling durability and scale for the Sturgis-anchored experience.
Expanding the calendar
To reach more veterans, VCR grew beyond a single Sturgis pilgrimage. By 2022 the organization had formalized three multi-day events and workshops while keeping Sturgis as the centerpiece. In 2023, Indian Motorcycle and VCR designated June as “Veteran Motorcycle Therapy Month,” activating three independent programs and encouraging dealerships and clubs to host supportive rides and fundraisers that funnel participants into VCR’s year-round pipeline.
Why “Motorcycle Therapy” works
Riding blends sensory focus, goal-oriented challenge, and group cohesion—factors associated with positive outcomes in trauma recovery when paired with structured support. VCR operationalizes these benefits through guided miles, deliberate stops, and a tight-knit cohort model, trading isolation for shared purpose. Trade and enthusiast coverage has consistently portrayed the program as an effective, peer-driven pathway for post-combat readjustment and civilian reintegration.
Ways to engage in 2025
Supporters can engage ahead of the next Sturgis season by nominating a veteran, volunteering lodging or meals along the route, sponsoring fuel or gear, or donating to underwrite accessible sidecar builds. VCR also runs WELL VET—a health and wellness track—and MOTO DONO, a tax-deductible motorcycle-donation program that refurbishes and gifts bikes to deserving vets; both rely on individual and industry contributions. The organization maintains donation, volunteer, and nomination portals year-round.
The takeaway
As an event, the Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis is more than a scenic convoy; it’s a structured rehabilitation experience that culminates at a bucket-list destination while building durable support networks. A decade after its founding, the combination of alumni mentorship, multi-event expansion, and sustained backing from Indian Motorcycle suggests real momentum—and a clear lane for riders, dealers, and the broader public to help more veterans rediscover the freedom of the road.