Join Your Fellow Veterans in a Charity Ride to Sturgis 2021
Veteran Army Airborne Paratrooper Dave Frey was riding solo to the 2014 Sturgis Bike Rally when he met a fellow veteran en route. The two bonded immediately. They talked about the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on their fellow veterans and shared their own challenges with readjusting to civilian life. These conversations got Dave thinking: What if there was a ride to help veterans experience the therapeutic benefits of motorcycles and have the adventure of a lifetime?
Dave launched the Charity Ride to Sturgis soon after. Now in its seventh year, the ride has helped dozens of veterans from all branches of the military form bonds, experience motorcycle therapy and feel the freedom of the open road together. And for veterans who want to take part in “the next great tradition,” there’s good news: There’s still time to register for the 2021 ride kicking off on July 28.
Read on for everything you need to know about the 2021 Charity Ride to Sturgis, including how to get in on this “once in a lifetime” event from a nonprofit worthy of your support.
What You Need to Know: The Veteran Charity Ride to Sturgis 2021
Created by veterans for veterans, the Charity Ride to Sturgis is an annual ride that takes vets from a starting point in the West to the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota. It’s the flagship event from the Veterans Charity Ride (VCR), a nonprofit that helps wounded veterans experience the holistic benefits of motorcycle therapy.
This year’s ride kicks off on July 28 in Moab, Utah. From there, the group will make its way through Grand Junction and Steamboat Springs before crossing through Fort Collins and Fort Robinson Lodge. Once reaching the scenic Pine Ridge Reservation outside of Rapid City, you’ll be just 30 miles away from the ride’s ending point: the annual bike rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.
As you travel along the ride route, you’ll spend more than a week connecting with your fellow veterans, visiting small towns and helping each other with motorcycle therapy. The culmination of the ride is the Sturgis 2021 Bike Rally—an event that draws motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world to the Black Hills of South Dakota. (Want to know more about the “Sturgis Experience?” Check out our overview of the event, which made our list of Top 2021 Motorcycle Rallies for a reason.)
Who: Veterans from all branches of the military; ambulatory veteran riders are welcome, as are amputee veterans, who can ride on modified motorcycles or in sidecars
What: Join fellow veterans in a charity motorcycle ride through five states, ending at the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota
Where: Moab, Utah to Sturgis, South Dakota
When: July 28 to August 11, 2021
Why: Connect with fellow veterans as you explore the nation’s most beautiful backroads en route to the Sturgis Bike Rally
How to Register: If you’re interested in joining the 2021 Charity Ride or would like to nominate a veteran who would benefit from this unique experience, fill out this quick form to get in touch with VCR.
The event is sponsored by Indian Motorcycles, which supplies the motorcycles used on the ride. Champion Sidecars provides the event’s sidecars for amputee veterans.
Helping Veterans Heal Through Motorcycle Therapy
If you’re a rider, you already know that motorcycles provide a slew of health and wellness benefits. From improving your mental outlook to enhancing the strength of your core, there are so many reasons to embrace the freedom of the open road. We’re encouraged by the number of nonprofits that help veterans experience the benefits of motorcycle therapy—and we’re always looking for ways to support the cause.
If you know a veteran who would love to participate in the 2021 Charity Ride to Sturgis, nominate your hero here. And if you have a motorcycle that you’re ready to part ways with, consider donating it to Operation Combat Bikesaver (OCB), a nonprofit that trains veterans in motorcycle fabrication, restoration and customization at no cost. Like VCR, OCB is on a mission to help veterans connect, let loose and experience “hot rod therapy” together.
Whether you need to ship your motorcycle to or from Sturgis 2021 or want to donate your old bike to a good cause like OCB, Motorcycle Shippers is here to help. If you’re participating in the 2021 Charity Ride to Sturgis, share your photos and videos with us on social media. We’d love to hear about your adventure through the west on your way to Sturgis 2021.