1. Mental Health & PTSD
Many veterans return from service with invisible wounds. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and survivor’s guilt are common. Over 30% of post-9/11 veterans report serious mental health struggles, often without adequate care or support.
“They fought for us—now they’re fighting to feel normal again.”
2. Homelessness
Veterans make up roughly 11% of the adult homeless population in the U.S. Many face barriers like job instability, unaffordable housing, and untreated trauma that put them—and their families—at risk of losing a safe place to live.
“No one who served this country should sleep on the street.”
3. Access to Healthcare
Even with VA resources, many veterans struggle to get timely, high-quality medical care—especially for mental health, chronic pain, and combat-related injuries. Wait times, bureaucracy, and gaps in rural areas add to the burden.
“The system meant to care for them can sometimes feel impossible to navigate.”
4. Employment & Career Transition
Transitioning from military to civilian life is tough. Many vets have valuable skills, but not always ones that match up with civilian job requirements. They may also face bias, underemployment, or difficulty adjusting to non-military work culture.
“Serving prepared them for anything—except a job interview.”
5. Family Strain
Military life often means long deployments, relocations, and uncertainty. After service, families must adjust to a new rhythm—sometimes with a spouse who’s changed physically or emotionally. Divorce and financial stress are common.
“When one person serves, the whole family sacrifices.”
6. Suicide
Veteran suicide remains a national crisis. An estimated 17 veterans die by suicide every day. Many suffer in silence, disconnected from support or unaware of where to turn.
“They were trained to endure—but not always to ask for help.”
Why Ride for Vets Exists
Ride for Vets raises funds and awareness to directly support programs that tackle these issues—providing housing, mental health support, job training, emergency assistance, and community to the people who gave so much for us.
Please help and give back a little to these courageous patriots.
With gratitude,
Brett