Testimonies

Testimonies are described as: 

• a solemn declaration 
• first hand knowledge and authentication
• open acknowledgement
• a public profession, opinion or view 
• a decree

Below are some of the Testimonies of those who have been on the The Rolling Barrage over the years in some capacity, be it a rider, safety, support, volunteer, or within the leadership of the organization. 

I could not recommended enough to someone to take part in TRB. If you come out for a day you will be out for a great ride. If you come out for a couple of days you will be out for an experience. But if you have the guts and determination to be part of the Full Pull crew you will be a part of the most epic journey.

Seeing our great country is only a part of it but finding a family that you can know, love and trust, who will not judge but listen and who will not turn their back on you when times get tough is priceless.

PTSD may be permanent but it does not need to be life ending. Life is worth living and life for me is more enjoyable on 2 wheels. I hope to see you this year on TRB 2023.

Stephen Vessey
TRB 2021 Full Pull Alumni

For me, what started out as attending and supporting a friends vision in his journey to to help veterans and first responders dealing with PTSD, made me come to the realization that I too struggled with the same issues not even realizing that it had already taken a foothold in my life and my family’s life. One needs to be mindful of what normal is. It’s astonishing what one person can get used to over time.

TRB is the family reunion that everyone wants to attend. It’s non judgemental recognition to its members that were inflicted with an injury due to their service. We are warm blooded human beings not robots that have to push through or suck it up. It taught me that it’s OK to not be OK.

When respectfully collaborating with other understanding members of the foundation you learn that there are tools in the tool box without triggering, or revealing your personal life.

You find out that sleep disturbances, worry, irritability, hyper vigilance, scepticism, intrusive thoughts, avoidance and loneliness are normal reactions to abnormal circumstances over time during service. What was effective then (being dialed in) during service does not apply to your personal life. It’s hard to make the switch or turn it off. Does this sound like you?

The ride offers serenity rather than worry. It displays beautiful scenery rather than intrusive memories, it offers compassion, rather than hyper vigilance and companionship instead of loneliness. It has helped and continues to help a tremendous amount of service people. The relationships are everlasting. Reach out or check us out. I have found and can maintain peace in my life.

Shawn Singer

TRB 2021  Full Pull Alumni 

My journey with The Rolling Barrage began in 2017 when Scott Casey asked if I could help on this “coast to coast” motorcycle ride. There was few of us in the planning group and in many ways when all was said and done collectively we did it.

I don’t ride a motorcycle but I brought an SUV and loaded it up like Jed Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies. Tables, chairs, first aid gear, food, water, and anything else I could think of.

I met the riders in Grand Falls NB, and drove with them “in the rear with the gear” to Winnipeg MB. At that point in history I was the Provincial Lead from Quebec to Manitoba. I had a lot of time to reflect on not only what the riders may be experiencing but myself too. Like many who have served for country or community, I was not in the best of mental health. I essentially just drowned it with my work, and life in general. I had been distant for many years up to that point by many who I served with. Now I am surrounded, I can’t close a chat or end a call. I have to deal with it head on, much like the challenges of service.

In the end, I survived, and while you can say you have a life, are you living? I fully attribute The Rolling Barrage as part of my move to living. So much so, I am part of the leadership of this organization as CEO. Go figure. So if I can do it, without a motorcycle, imagine what you can do on The Rolling Barrage with one.

Christian Carter (Opie)

CEO – The Rolling Barrage PTSD Foundation

I’m a spouse of a veteran and first responder. When I got involved in 2018 I didn’t know a whole lot about PTSD but I knew something wasn’t right with the man I was married to for 26 years. It made me feel very helpless as a spouse to see him suffer. I didn’t understand it and didn’t have anyone to talk to who was in the same boat. And with that process I was hurting too. That changed when I got involved with TRB. I thought I was just going to help with a great cause and had no idea that I was about to gain a whole new family who means so much to me. I got hope.

What really spoke to me was an approach to learn to live with PTSD. After years of comparing himself with others for trauma and not feeling deserving, it took the ride in 2019 for my husband to reach out for help. Trauma is trauma is trauma and the cause is different for everyone. It took conversations on the ride for him to understand that which was the start of healing.

Because of the ride I no longer feel helpless and I feel immense gratitude. I don’t want to call TRB a support network as to me that doesn’t even come close to what it is. I was adopted by a family of brothers and sisters who lean on each other beyond the three weeks of the ride in August. We have deep conversations, we cry together but we also have a lot of laughs and fun together in our mission. We are a motley crue family and I love every part of our motley crue family reunion.

Maybe you are a spouse, son, daughter, mother, father etc who can relate. Maybe you are a service member who is trying to figure out whether you need help. If you don’t think you need it maybe your family does. You must place the oxygen mask first before assisting others.

Hopefully I’m able to pay forward what TRB has given me.

Carola Singer 

In 2018 I was informed that a guy I knew and served with was going to be overnighting in a place just outside of Edmonton Alberta, on his way across Canada on a motorcycle ride to raise money and awareness for the so called PTSD injury.

This guy, I mentioned, and I served together, along with a lot more men, in the former Yugoslavia on Roto 0.

I would eventually reconnect with a lot of those men because of this ride, we call The Rolling Barrage. I apologize ladies I got out as women were entering the infantry, but since that time a lot of women infantry have served.

My intention was to surprise this guy just outside of Edmonton, but what Scott Casey had organized ended up surprising me.

Until joining TRB in 2018 I thought I was your typical pissed off grumpy veteran, I knew nothing about PTSD. After spending only 3 days with The Rolling Barrage,the Alberta legs, and talking to those on the ride, I started to question my way of thinking and the way I treated people.

One month after those 3 days, and yelling at my son yet again, I phoned Mental Health and Addiction in my town.

I started to see a Phycologist in September of 2018 and was diagnosed with PTSD in January 2019 that was caused from things I had witnessed and things done to me on that tour in 1992.

I’ve been on every ride since 2018 in some fashion. 2019 I did the “Full Pull” and was asked to be a Tailgunner.

2020 I did the Western Bubble, thanks covid. Joined the Board of Directors in 2021 as well as being Lead Bike and Chief Operations Officer for 2021 and 2022.

You may ask why I continue to ride with The Rolling Barrage every year. All that really just says you haven’t spent enough time riding with us.

The Rolling Barrage is a family, a community that DOES NOT JUDGE, DOES NOT treat you as an outsider. The Rolling Barrage is a welcoming hug.

Why do I continue to come back? I come back to help people look in a mirror and say “hey you in there, it’s okay to be you, no matter what, we’ve got this.”

I come back to help maybe that one person the way The Rolling Barrage helped me.

Pro Patria 

Jim Gordon

Full Pull Alumni 

I thru my leg over the saddle after reuniting with a brother on The Rolling Barrage 3 years ago in Barrie, Ontario.

The following year I did a day ride with them as they rolled through Barrie.

Last year (2022) I did Kingston, ON to Sault Ste Marie, ON, and this year (2023) I’m doing the Full Pull.

The Rolling Barrage change my life. It gave me back more than I can ever explain. After that first reconnect, I reconnected with the boys from P-Coy – 3 RCR, in what has turned into P-Coy Fall-Ex.

My wife noticed a change almost overnight. To a point where she insisted I do Fall-Ex the next year.

Reconnecting with my old brothers gave me purpose/family. Had I not reconnected, things would be a lot different today.

Reconnecting put me in contact with James Gordon, which put me in contact with Lloyd Farmer and started reopening VAC cases.

John Quint

The Rolling Barrage – Changed Rider