"For many former service members, riding isn't just recreation - it's therapy. It's a pressure release valve, and a way to reconnect with people who understand what they've been through. It gives them a sense of community and a physical outlet after they have given so much during their time serving. Perhaps more than anything for these riders, mountain biking has once again given them purpose."
"The Dirt Therapy Project (TDTP) was founded by Jonathan Hagerman, a former U.S. Marine Corps utility engineer who served from 2009-2013. What started as a simple idea - get veterans outside and connected through riding - has evolved into a lifeline for many dealing with post-deployment stress, depression, and the difficult transition back into civilian life. "It's more than a sport," Hagerman says. "It's a way to reconnect, to talk, to push through fear and stress, and to find purpose again.""
Mountain biking provides many veterans with therapeutic benefits, social connection, and renewed purpose after military service. The Dirt Therapy Project (TDTP) connects veterans through group rides, offering shuttles, laps, conversation, and community at events such as the Veterans Day Ride at Lake Leatherwood in Northwest Arkansas. TDTP was founded by Jonathan Hagerman, a former U.S. Marine Corps utility engineer, to help veterans manage post-deployment stress, depression, and reintegration challenges. Partners including D3O, Delta Three Oscar, Troy Lee Designs, and ODI Grips support events by providing shuttles, equipment, and resources to enhance accessibility and camaraderie.
Read at BikeMag
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