WELCOME TO RALLY4VETS CYCLING!

MY CYCLING STORY

Hey there, I'm Robert Hess, a combat veteran and PTSD survivor. I like to think of myself as a PTSD graduate, because let's face it, those emotions never truly disappear, do they? But that's where my bike comes in!

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Beyond my battle with PTSD, I'm also an Agent Orange prostate cancer survivor. Waiting for those annual PSA blood test results can be a real nail-biter, but I’ve found an amazing way to keep my mind in a good place: cycling!

For me, getting on the bike isn’t just exercise — it’s how I keep PTSD from running the whole show. The steady rhythm of pedaling settles my nerves, burns off the anxious energy, and lifts my mood in a way I can actually feel.

Riding gives me something PTSD tries to steal: control. I set the pace, choose the route, and finish what I started. And when I’m outside — especially with good people around me — the noise in my head gets quieter. My focus narrows to the road, my breathing, the next mile… and for a while, I’m not stuck in the past. I’m right here. Moving forward.