Believe like Briley. That phrase represents the cheer for Briley who is the daughter of one of HEI’s senior engineers, Greg Thompson, and has been fighting stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a type of cancer that attacks the immune system. The 14-year-old was diagnosed with this disease in October 2021. Briley underwent four months of chemotherapy treatment followed by proton beam radiation at the Mayo Clinic. During treatment, she was approached by the Outdoor Adventure Foundation (OAF) with a great deer hunting opportunity to bring smiles at a time when they were needed most.
OAF provides hunting, fishing, and other outdoor adventures for children who have been diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses as well as combat-disabled veterans. Briley was provided with a deer hunt in December between her chemo treatments. She muscled up enough energy to enjoy the adventure with her family and tagged a trophy buck at Baldhill Creek Adventures in Binford, ND. The adventure was filmed and will be a future episode of “Dream Makers” on the Pursuit Channel. It will also be available on the OAF YouTube channel.
Greg Thompson with Briley in December 2021 enjoying their OAF hunting adventure.
OAF hosted their annual Gala on March 19 in Fargo, ND, where they presented Briley with the mounted deer. HEI sponsored the gala and several employees and their families attended in support of Briley. She completed her last chemo treatment in early March and is feeling great.
(Left) Briley proudly holds her mounted buck. (Right) Group photo of Briley’s family and several HEI employees at the Gala.