‘Hit the Bricks’ relay race raises money for cancer research

Hundreds of Wake Forest students, faculty and staff will run laps around Hearn Plaza on Thursday, Oct. 4, for ‘Hit the Bricks.’ The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The eight-hour relay race raises money for cancer research in honor of Brian Piccolo. A final remembrance lap for cancer victims and survivors will be followed by a luminary ceremony in front of Wait Chapel.

Both individuals and teams participate, and the race includes friendly fundraising competition. Hit the Bricks brings Wake Foresters together for a cause that has long been important to the community.

In 2003 students held the first annual Hit the Bricks relay race, raising $3,000. In its 15-year history, participants have run 279,917 laps and raised $404,843. Hit the Bricks and other student-led events have raised a total of more than $3 million for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund.

In 1980, the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund was started by students in memory of Wake Forest’s All-American football player, Brian Piccolo. Piccolo attended Wake Forest in the 1960s, went on to become a running back for the Chicago Bears, and died in 1970 of embryonal cell carcinoma at the age of 26.

Money raised supports the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

“I am so excited to be a part of a campus tradition and philanthropy event that is bigger than any Wake Forest student. Hit the Bricks is a day where we get to laugh, sweat, work hard and raise money for cancer research that benefits so many people,” said senior Nicolette DeLorenzo, a co-chair of this year’s event.

For more information about Hit the Bricks and the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, please visit www.wfuhitthebricks.com.