Wake 'N Shake dance-a-thon to raise funds for cancer research

Wake Forest’s Wake ‘N Shake dance-a-thon will be held March 24 to raise funds for cancer research.

What: Wake ‘N Shake is a student-organized 12-hour dance marathon held each spring. The event benefits the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund.

Wake ‘N Shake started in 2006 with 300 dancers raising over $30,000. Last year, the marathon hosted more than 1,400 students, faculty and staff and raised a total of $334,337.64 for the fund.

This year, the event honors eight team champions who are currently battling, or have survived a battle, with cancer. They will speak to the participants throughout the day along with physician researchers and community leaders. During the final hour of the event, dancers light up the dark room with glow sticks to lift up people in their lives who have been affected by cancer.

When: The event begins at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 24 and concludes at 12 a.m. Sunday, March 25.

Where: Wake Forest University Sutton Center

Why: The Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund was started by students in 1980 in memory of the Wake Forest All-American football player, who passed away at age 26 from cancer during his career with the Chicago Bears. The fund provides discretionary money that allows the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Health to pursue their most innovative research programs.