When Tracy Dunham talks about the work of the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation, she’s not speaking from a distance. She’s speaking as a sister. As someone who’s seen, firsthand, what it means for combat veterans to carry home invisible wounds, and how healing can happen not in an office or through a lecture, but around a grill, in a boat, or standing shoulder to shoulder fixing a car.
Two years ago, Dunham stepped into the role of Executive Director full-time, continuing the mission that began in honor of her brother, Sgt. Brady Oberg, a proud and dedicated U.S. Army veteran who died by suicide in 2015 after serving in Afghanistan. The foundation has grown from a tribute to Brady’s life into a vital network that connects, heals, and empowers veterans across the region.
Building Connection, Not Just Awareness
“The biggest thing we focus on is connection,” Dunham said. “How can we connect veterans with other veterans?” That question guides nearly everything the organization does— from adventure retreats and fitness programs to new partnerships with local businesses.
These aren’t just events—they’re opportunities for veterans to rediscover camaraderie, belonging, and trust. Through collaborations with CrossFit Fargo and the nonprofit Fix It Forward, the foundation has built spaces where veterans can sweat, wrench, or simply talk with people who understand them. “It’s about getting together in ways that feel natural,” she said. “We’re not forcing anyone to sit in a circle and talk about their trauma. We just want to give them a chance to connect.”
Even the outdoors, something Brady loved deeply, is woven into nearly every aspect of the organization. From hunting and fishing trips to the foundation’s “Patriot Houses,” two fully equipped ice fishing trailers stationed on Big Detroit Lake, the goal is to get veterans outside, engaged, and grounded. “The fishing or the hiking is what gets them there,” Dunham said. “But the real healing happens when they’re standing around a grill or telling stories they haven’t told in 20 years.”
About the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation
The Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation was founded in 2015 to honor the life and service of Sgt. Brady Oberg, a proud Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. Created by his family and friends, the foundation’s mission is to support combat veterans through connection, community, and understanding. Based in the Fargo–Moorhead and Detroit Lakes region, the organization offers adventure retreats, outdoor experiences, and wellness partnerships designed to help veterans heal and rediscover camaraderie in everyday life.
Expanding Healing Through Innovation
Recently, the foundation launched a new partnership with Healing with Hyperbarics of Fargo, offering veterans access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy—a treatment known to help with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTS). “We just started this program in the last three months,” Dunham said, “and it’s been lifechanging for the veterans who’ve gone through it.”
The foundation is even covering the cost of treatment for select veterans through scholarships. “It’s not cheap,” she said, “but if it can help someone heal their brain and get their life back, it’s worth it.” This Veterans Day, they’ll offer free sessions for veterans to try the treatment and learn more about its benefits.
Staying True to Brady’s Values
Every new idea is weighed through a simple lens of Would Brady have wanted this? It’s a question that keeps the organization grounded.
“There are a lot of things we could do,” Dunham said. “People reach out all the time—financial advisors, speakers—but we ask ourselves, ‘Would Brady think this was something meaningful?’ He loved being outdoors, being around people who understood him. So that’s our focus.”
Brady’s quiet strength and humility also inform the foundation’s approach to recognition. “A lot of veterans don’t want to stand up when someone says, ‘All veterans, please rise,’” she said. “They’re proud, but they don’t need the spotlight. So we’re constantly thinking about how to honor them in ways that feel authentic.”
Carrying the Mission Forward
The foundation now serves between 750 and 1,000 veterans and first responders every year, primarily across North Dakota and western Minnesota, though participants have come from as far as Wisconsin. Its events include adventure retreats, and a June golf tournament, as well as community programs like Giving Hearts Day.
In addition to those large-scale events, the organization offers something even more personal—scholarships for veterans pursuing degrees in mental health fields at NDSU, UND, and Minot State. The goal is to cultivate more counselors who can say, “I’ve been there. I understand. That’s huge,” Dunham said. “Because if you’re sitting with a counselor who’s never had to pull a trigger, it’s different. Veterans need people who truly get it.”
An Open Call to the Community
Looking ahead, Dunham hopes to grow the organization’s base of volunteers and local partnerships. “We’re open to anything,” she said. “If someone loves ice fishing and wants to take veterans out, awesome—we’ll find the people and cover the costs. If someone wants to start a veterans’ golf outing, we’d love that.”
She emphasizes that businesses don’t have to have all the answers—they just have to care. “When CrossFit Fargo reached out, they said, ‘We want to do something, but we’re not sure what.’ Together, we built a whole fitness program. That’s all it takes—someone willing to start the conversation.”
Mission in Action
Connection through Experience:
From fishing and hunting trips to CrossFit workouts and veterans’ nights at Fix It Forward Auto Care, the foundation builds environments where veterans can bond naturally.
Healing through Innovation:
A new partnership with Healing with Hyperbarics of Fargo provides scholarship-funded hyperbaric oxygen therapy to help veterans recover from brain injuries and PTSD.
Investing in the Future:
Scholarships at NDSU, UND, Minot State, and the University of Mary support veterans pursuing degrees in mental health fields—so those who’ve served can help others heal.
How to Get Involved
The foundation is always looking for volunteers, partners, and community supporters.
Ways to help:
- Offer your time or skills (event planning, photography, guiding outdoor trips, etc.)
- Partner as a local business to sponsor an activity or retreat
- Donate directly
- Invite a veteran you know to apply for an event or retreat
Learn more about the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation
Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation
adyoberglegacyfoundation.org
Facebook | /bradyoberglegacy
Instagram | @bradyoberglegacy
