In the aftermath of trauma, the silence of everyday life can be deafening. For many veterans and first responders, their service scars aren’t visible, yet run deep. Motorcycle Missions emerged from a simple but powerful idea: healing can start with connection, a wrench, and the open road.
Motorcycle Missions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to “rescuing the rescuers,” helping firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, nurses, police officers, and military veterans as they navigate the psychological toll of their service. The group’s signature concept, Throttle Therapy, provides an effective alternative path to healing for heroes who hesitate to seek traditional mental health care.
By immersing participants in a community of peers to engage in the hands-on world of motorcycle building and riding, the program offers a constructive adrenaline rush, a shared sense of purpose, and the camaraderie that so many miss when they leave the uniform behind. Through these experiences, participants rediscover kinship, confidence, and joy, often for the first time in years.
Rebuilding from the Ground Up: Krystal Hess’s Story
The organization’s founder and executive director, Krystal Hess, knows the healing power of motorcycles firsthand. After leaving an abusive marriage and moving from Canada to Texas in search of a fresh start, Krystal found herself facing yet another trauma, one that resulted in her rebuilding a disassembled motorcycle and, with it, her own life.
“Every part I put on the bike puts a part of myself back together,” she says. That transformative process inspired the creation of Motorcycle Missions, a community where rebuilding a motorcycle mirrors rebuilding the human spirit.
Since then, Krystal has turned her pain into purpose, helping hundreds of veterans and first responders rediscover hope through motorcycles, metalwork, and personal connection. Her story embodies what Motorcycle Missions stands for: resilience, reinvention, and the freedom found astride a revving engine.
A Team Fueled by Purpose
Behind the throttle therapy are leaders who bring expertise, heart, and shared experience:
Darin Chartier, President, brings over 35 years of experience in aerospace and manufacturing, blending engineering precision with a deep respect for the nation’s heroes.
Joey Lee Willhite, Vice President and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, connects decades of racing, technology, and mentorship experience to guide participants in the workshop and on the track.
Ruth Snow, treasurer and Navy Seabee veteran, ensures every resource directly supports mission impact, from financial stewardship to hands-on involvement at events.
Adrien Thom, secretary and Marine Corps veteran, was first introduced to Motorcycle Missions through her company's support of MotoUp at MotoGP in Austin, TX. She has since participated in the motocross program, obtained her motorcycle license, and is currently participating in Build 16 of the build mentorship program.
Bear Haughton, board member, veteran, and founder of Whiteknuckler Brand and Motorcycle Sherpa, provides ongoing digital strategy and international partnership development, including global healing rides for veterans and first responders.
Advisors such as Sgt. Justin Homer (Chicago PD), Rev. Dr. Robert Davis, Lt. Col. John Lawton (USMC, Ret.), Robert “Uno” Richman, Ross Dobelbower, and Sofi Tsingos each bring a unique combination of professional expertise, lived service, and lifelong passion for motorcycles, helping extend the reach and depth of the organization’s programs.
Together, this diverse team forms a brotherhood and sisterhood bound by trust and purpose and a passion for motorsports.
Throttle Therapy in Action
At its core, Motorcycle Missions is about transformation through experience. Whether participants are learning to weld, re-assembling an engine, or spending a day together at the track, the process offers mindfulness through motion. Each throttle acceleration is an act of defiance against despair. Each build session is a reminder that no one rides alone.
As “Pastor Bob,” Motorcycle Missions’ spiritual advisor, says, “Throttle therapy offers a sense of control, connection, and peace. It’s not a replacement for professional care, but it can be a meaningful part of the healing journey.”
The Road Ahead
From its home base in Texas to new chapters across the country, Motorcycle Missions continues to grow, building more bikes, forming new partnerships, and welcoming more heroes into its tightknit family. Recent collaborations with organizations like Motorcycle Sherpa have even expanded the healing journey to the Himalayas, where select veterans and first responders experience the cathartic freedom of high-mountain riding.
As Bear Haughton says, “Adrenaline saves veteran lives.”
For those who’ve given so much, Motorcycle Missions gives back something priceless: a reason to ride, a path to purpose, and inclusion in a community that understands the unique struggles of those who serve.
To learn more or support the mission, visit motorcyclemissions.com or follow @motorcyclemissions on social media.
Together, we can keep rescuing the rescuers, one ride at a time.