Richie Rides to Recover

My name is Glenn Richie, I am a veteran who served over 30 years on active duty in the US Army. During my time in service, I deployed to the Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom, and many long-term deployment training missions. Like so many veterans, I too was affected mentally, physically, and emotionally. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the end of my time in service that I began to seek treatment out of necessity. For 25 years, I stuffed traumatic memories of events and situations into my “emotional” bucket. To manage those haunting memories, I adopted many unhealthy practices as a means to cope.

In 2014, the lid eventually blew off of my “bucket” and I was hospitalized to deal with the invisible wounds and scars of combat, deployments, and the guilt of family separations. While hospitalized, I began cycling on a stationary bike in the corner of a fitness studio to avoid interaction with people at the gym. A couple of months later upon discharge from the hospital, I purchased my first bike and transitioned to riding outdoors. Since 2014, I have cycled nearly 47,000 miles across America, Germany, and Denmark. In 2017 I retired.

Since then, I have undergone Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Prolonged exposure therapy, Electro shock therapy, endless hours of personal counseling, and Ketamine infusion therapy which I continue to this day. However, cycling continues to provide me the greatest therapy and enduring efficacy. When I cycle, it allows me to leave past memories in the past while enjoying the journeying forward! Cycling frees me from the chains of trauma. Each day of cycling is a new journey, just like the journey towards continued recovery. However, in 2019 I lost my son (26) and in 2021 I lost my daughter (31). Their passing was a tremendous setback. It was devasting in more ways than words express. Their passing felt like a physical piece of me was gone. I had dreamed of retiring from the military and spending my better years with them making up for all the missed time due to service to our Nation. Today when I ride, I carry their memories with me closely while trying to forget the traumatic military ones. I’m humbly asking you to support my fundraiser by making a donation to purchase a new bike so I can continue to heal using cycling as healthy choice on my journey to recovery.