Walter Prescher and Bret Humphrey are participating in the Legion’s USA 250 Challenge to celebrate America’s birthday and encourage others to exercise for mental wellness.
College Station, Texas, American Legion Post 1938 members Walter Prescher and Bret Humphrey are on a fitness and mental health mission now until July 4, 2026, and beyond. Both are participating in The American Legion USA 250 Challenge to celebrate America’s 250th birthday next year by logging 250 miles of exercise while encouraging other veterans to do the same for their mental health.
“Endurance sports are one of the ways that I keep myself in shape and keep myself motivated to stay healthy for my kids (ages 5 to 23),” Prescher said. “I'm going to be there to do all the all the fun stuff that they want to do because I'm staying healthy for them, as well as really working to inspire other veterans to get active and to embrace what exercise can do for your mental health.”
Following a medical retirement from the U.S. Army in 2009 for a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress, Prescher’s mental health declined.
“I honestly could not function at all,” he said. “I struggled for years with depression, suicide ideation, really struggled with getting my life back on track.”
It was exercise, specifically endurance sports, that “honestly saved my life. Endurance sports have become a big part of maintaining my mental health and basically being able to regulate my post-traumatic stress disorder, regulate depression.”
When Prescher made the choice to exercise for his mental health, he started walking to build the habit and then ran a Couch to 5K. “I thought, this is a lot of fun,” he said. His exercise habit eventually progressed to cycling and competing in triathlons from sprint distance to a half-ironman. Prescher’s fitness journey has been an inspiration to other veterans and to his 12-year-old son who ran his first half-marathon with him back in March and wants to compete in a triathlon.
“Cycling is basically my meditation time,” he said. “It's my time to clear my head and process what's going on in the world and just go.” As he cycles for mental health and the USA 250 Challenge, Prescher carries a message with him.
“I know what it’s like to be debating whether I was going to become part of that statistic (of 22 veterans a day dying by suicide),” he said. “I know what that’s like, and I know it’s possible to overcome it. A huge thing for me is knowing that if you can find a way to give somebody hope, something positive to do, something that challenges them, it adds to the reason to get out of bed in the morning. It adds to the reason to get dressed and want to function and do my best, not just for my family, but for myself and to challenge myself. I know so many other people are hungering for that. And so, that's really where I embrace (the Legion’s) Be the One (suicide prevention mission) is to get people to find that thing that challenges them, that feeds them, that fuels them, that will give them the justification, the reason to just keep on plugging along. If today all they could do is take a baby step, tomorrow take a slightly bigger step, and then a slightly bigger step till they're living their best life.”
Like Prescher, Humphrey’s cycling journey began following retirement from the U.S. Navy in 2008. As a kid growing up in Denver, he used to ride his bike along the Platte River. But following military retirement, he vowed “never to do physical fitness again,” he said. “I’m done.”
But that vow didn’t last long. About a month later, he put on his old running shoes and started running around the block. Running, which he enjoys doing alongside his rescued black lab, then progressed into cycling, swimming and triathlons.
“Cycling almost comes naturally. I enjoy it,” Humphrey said. “I’m out there and it’s me and the bike.”
When The American Legion launched the USA 250 Challenge back in July to kick off a year of celebration, Humphrey joined to be “supportive of what The American Legion stands for and what we do.” Now, he and Prescher are outfitted in American Legion Be the One jerseys while they cycle and encourage others to join in the sport and USA 250 Challenge.
“We wear our American Legion Be the One jerseys to not only promote The American Legion, but to talk to people that are at the (cycling) events about veteran issues, how being active promotes mental health, and encouraging people to invite veterans to get involved with cycling because this is really good for them,” Prescher said. “It helps with mental health.”
“When I’m around other Legionnaires and veterans, I talk about the adventures of cycling,” Humphrey said. “Being out on beautiful roads, going to different parts of Texas that you won’t see if you’re traveling on the main roads.”
Together, Prescher and Humphrey are promoting cycling in the veteran community from Post 1938 to other veteran groups. They created a Legion Peloton program at the post where Humphrey envisions it as being like the Legion Riders where veterans come together to ride on wheels, just without motors, for camaraderie, fitness and mental wellness.
“We're always encouraging other people to join us,” Prescher said, adding that it’s a no-drop cycling ride so veterans of all abilities are welcome. “We want to teach people (about cycling) and get them comfortable and confident to learn to love the sport.
“I tell people my own story to show that this kind of thing really does have a positive impact,” Prescher added. “We need to encourage people, give people opportunities to try cycling, give them a challenge to stick with it for a period of time, really be the one to set the example and encourage other people to take care of themselves and do the self-care they need to be as healthy and happy as they can be in their civilian life.”
Learn how you can participate in The American Legion USA 250 Challenge here to log miles or hours of exercise, mental wellness and volunteering
- USA250 Challenge