West Bend — For U.S. Marine veteran Nick Stewart, the mission has always been about service. On November 10, he’ll shoulder that commitment—literally—by starting a 25-hour Hike for Heroes and wearing a 25-pound weighted vest to raise funds and awareness for two nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping veterans: Next18 and the Big Fish Foundation.
The journey begins Monday, November 10, at 8 a.m. at the old Washington County Courthouse in West Bend, Wi and will end 25 hours later, at 9 a.m. on Veterans Day, November 11, on Fifth Avenue and Poplar Street. Every penny raised, Stewart stressed, will go directly to the organizations.
Click HERE to make a support Hike for Heroes
“One hundred percent of the money raised goes to the two 501(c)(3) organizations,” he said. “It’s a 50/50 split between Big Fish Foundation and Next18. Both are gold-standard nonprofits that make sure donations go right where they’re intended—to help veterans.”
Click HERE for more information on Next18
For Stewart, who has spent the last decade working in mental health at the Veterans Administration hospital in Milwaukee, this effort is deeply personal.
“I’ve really gained a good sense of what the veteran community truly needs right now,” he said. “It’s about helping them become better contributors to their communities and reigniting their sense of service—like they had when they were in the military.”
Stewart said the organizations he’s supporting—both founded by veterans—help provide that spark.
“Big Fish Foundation and Next18 help veterans and first responders reconnect,” said Stewart. “When you get out of the military, even if you didn’t serve in combat, you suddenly lose that community of accountability. One day you’re in, the next day you’re out, and it’s gone. These programs rebuild that sense of purpose.”
Stewart served on the Board of Directors for the Big Fish Foundation from 2020 until 2024 before stepping down to pursue local public service.
“Without the Big Fish Foundation, I wouldn’t even be doing what I’m doing right now,” said Stewart an appointed Washington County Supervisor for District 5. “They gave me that sense of accountability again—made me a better person—and made me want to go out and serve in my community, which I’m doing now.”
His hike will take him from West Bend north to the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial in Kewaskum, then back south toward Big Cedar Lake, where friends will host a small barbecue and rest stop.
From there, Stewart will continue through the night along the Eisenbahn Trail, joined by fellow Marine Scott Burton. The pair served together with the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines during the invasion of Iraq.
“I’ll be done at 9 o’clock the next morning,” he said. “The hike involves carrying 25 pounds for 25 hours and all I’m asking is for people to at least kick in $25.”
Neighbors are free to walk along with Stewart. Even for a portion of the event. Stewart’s 72-year-old mother plans to join him for part of the walk.
Stewart said he hopes, through the walk, to inspire people in the community to take small steps to become better versions of themselves, especially when it comes to taking care of their physical and mental health.
“Americans are unhealthier now than we have ever been,” he said. “Our communities need our veterans to stand up and lead by example now more than ever. The response to this 2-day walk has been great, and many have reached out wanting to join a portion of the hike.”
The organizations benefiting from the hike have strong reputations for transparency and impact.
“Big Fish Foundation is part of the gold standard,” Stewart said. “Two years in a row, more than 95% of all money raised went directly to veterans. Most 501(c)(3)s only need to show 22% goes toward their mission, but these guys go above and beyond. They even post their tax returns publicly.”
For Stewart, that integrity matters.
“Working at the VA, I see how much red tape there is,” he said. “The VA does a good job providing acute mental health care and substance abuse care. But once a veteran graduates from that level, there’s often nowhere else to go. That’s where organizations like Big Fish and Next18 step in—to push veterans to the next level, to help them stay accountable and keep moving forward.”
People can donate through Next18’s donation portal, where all proceeds will be tracked and divided between the two nonprofits.
As Stewart prepares for his 25-hour journey, he hopes others will find inspiration to take even small steps in supporting veterans.
“It’s about giving back to those who served,” he said. “I just want to show that there’s always another way to serve—whether it’s walking beside a veteran, donating, or helping them reconnect with purpose.”
Those interested in donating or learning more can visit Next18.org or BigFishFoundation.org.
