Cody Thompson Memorial Hero Fund

Cody was born with a heart defect that required surgery as an infant, and other medical conditions that would necessitate hospital visits for the rest of his life. Despite his medical conditions, he audaciously embraced life with an unshakable spirit. In fact, his life was filled with adventure—from sky diving to swimming with sharks. He was an accomplished self-taught woodworker, an avid runner, a budding disc-golf player, and a friend to many. He was a dedicated, loving husband and dog dad.

When Cody was 8 years old, he was granted a wish by the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Central New York to be a marine mammal trainer at Marine World Africa in Vallejo, California. As a trainer for the day, he learned how to train a pair of Orca whales, fed dolphins, and orchestrated dolphin tricks with his trainer whistle at the marine show. He was so beloved by the staff at Marine World that they decided to name their newest baby dolphin “Cody” in his honor. This wish was the catalyst that inspired an altruistic life of giving back and supporting organizations dedicated to helping children. Years later, he became a Wish Granter and Speaker for the foundation.

Cody became involved with St. Baldrick’s over a decade ago when his best friend from college introduced him to the foundation after shaving his head in solidarity with a family member who was battling cancer. For nearly a decade, Cody would raise the bar to attract more donors by giving the highest bidder the right to choose a crazy hairstyle to wear until his head-shaving event. Over the years, these included dyeing his hair green or hot pink, and styling it into a signature mohawk. In March 2021, Cody held a virtual raffle, generously raffling off his handcrafted charcuterie boards in exchange for donations.

In 2015, Cody met his wife Jen and they were married in 2018. They settled in Pennsylvania with their two dogs, Prince and Simba. Cody and Jen continued granting wishes, fundraising for St. Baldrick’s, and supporting other organizations focused on making positive impacts on the lives of children.