Motorcycle Missions has never been just a non-profit organization; from the beginning, it's been a brotherhood and sisterhood on two wheels dedicated to helping veterans and first responders find healing and purpose after trauma. We harness the therapeutic power of motorcycle building and riding to combat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation, offering a unique path to recovery, healing, and renewed self-worth.

A Legacy of Healing: Our History

Krystal Hess founded Motorcycle Missions after rebuilding a motorcycle helped her emotionally recover from trauma. She recognized the therapeutic value of working with one’s hands and discovered the freedom that could be found on the open road. Starting from a simple idea—that the focus required to build a motorcycle and the sense of community found in riding could heal invisible wounds—she set out to share her vision with the folks who needed it. Launched in 2017 as a small, local initiative, Motorcycle Missions programs have expanded nationally, impacting hundreds of Veterans and First Responders since then.

The Power of the Programs: What We Do and Why It Works

At the heart of Motorcycle Missions are thoughtfully designed programs where groups of peers connect around the art of building and riding motorcycles. In garages and on tracks, participants find recovery, purpose, and community.

Build Program

The Build Mentorship Program connects 8-10 participants with mentors and professional shops, where they work together for 4–6 months to build a custom motorcycle. Shaping metal, machining parts, and assembling a bike takes focus and presence. Doing it in a group of peers encourages bonding, and helps unpack traumas in a safe, supportive environment. This slow, methodical process mirrors the journey of recovery—piece by piece, participants rebuild themselves and a motorcycle.

Ride Programs

When we say “Throttle Therapy”, we’re talking about our favorite activity: riding. Our riding programs range from orientation classes that teach the basics to track days where riders get to zip around a real racetrack. Group rides foster the close bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood often missed after leaving the military or an emergency service force. The shared experience of the ride, the sensation of freedom, and the need for situational awareness all contribute to a meditative state. In this safe, non-judgmental space, participants can learn new skills, share their experiences, or enjoy time spent with peers who understand.

Why This Approach is Effective

These programs work because they combine elements of exposure therapy, vocational training, and peer support. Motorcycle builds provide an immediate, positive feedback loop; the motorcycles are tangible symbols of effort, skill, and collaboration. The innate danger and focus required for riding provide a healthy outlet for high-octane individuals accustomed to high-stakes environments. We replace negative coping mechanisms with constructive, life-affirming activities, offering a stable base for long-term mental health.

Our Impact: Measurable Change and Renewed Hope

The true measure of Motorcycle Missions' work is not the number of bikes built or miles ridden, but lives transformed. We often hear stories of participants who found themselves at rock bottom—facing isolation, depression, and addiction—only to discover renewed hope through our programs. These impacts are profound:

• Decreased Isolation: Participants connect with a community that understands their experiences.
• Increased Self-Worth: Completing a complex build restores confidence and validates participants’ capabilities.
• A Healthy Outlet: The focus required for building and riding provides a positive, challenging alternative to destructive coping mechanisms.
• Preventing Suicide: By fostering connection and purpose, we actively work to prevent veteran and first responder suicide.

Every success story demonstrates the need for our work and the difference that a wrench, a weld, or shared winding road can make for our participants.

Get Involved: Join the Mission

Motorcycle Missions program demand outstrips our capacity, and we depend on volunteers, donors, and advocates to help us offer a path to healing. We offer multiple ways for you to get involved:

Volunteer Your Time and Talent

Volunteers are the backbone of Motorcycle Missions. If you have a skill or a passion—from welding and wrenching in a shop to helping with administrative tasks, fundraising events, or social media—we need you. We are always looking for mentors who can share their knowledge and provide a guiding presence for participants. Your time offering direct, meaningful support is priceless.

Spread the Word

Awareness is critical. Help us reach Veterans and First Responders who need our services, and potential supporters who can help us grow. Share our stories on social media, talk about our mission at local events, forward an email to a friend, or refer a struggling Veteran or First Responder to our organization. Every conversation you start helps us expand our reach.

Organize a Charity Ride or Event

Do you love riding? Turn your passion into purpose! Organize a charity ride, poker run, or local benefit event to raise funds for Motorcycle Missions and community awareness. These events provide crucial financial support and embody the spirit of community and camaraderie that is central to our mission.

Make a Donation

While the support of volunteers is essential, financial contributions ensure the lights stay on, the tools are maintained, and we can offer programs at no cost to our participants. Every dollar donated directly funds parts, supplies, shop time, and the logistical support required to run our Build and Ride programs.

We sincerely believe that uniting riders, builders, Veterans, First Responders, and compassionate citizens creates a powerful force for good. Join Motorcycle Missions today, and help us continue to save lives and help heroes heal.