On Thursday, Sept. 26, Wake Forest University will host Hit The Bricks, drawing hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University to run or walk laps around Hearn Plaza from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Media are invited.

This spirited relay race raises funds for cancer research in honor of Brian Piccolo, a former WFU All-American football player who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 26 while playing in the NFL for the Chicago Bears.

“Brian Piccolo was a standout student-athlete and leader at Wake Forest, and our students aspire to that by leading events like Hit the Bricks every year,” said Brad Shugoll, director of service and leadership with Wake Forest’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement. “It honors both Brian’s individual legacy, and also all the students’ faculty and staff who have participated in this for more than two decades.”

Supporting Cancer Research

Money raised supports innovative cancer research and programs at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

“This year, we have added a lot of activities for students before the big relay day to jump-start our fundraising efforts,” said Alisha Kamath, from Raleigh, who is part of the student leadership team and a senior director of the event. “This includes having our first Pickle for Piccolo, a pickleball tournament, a dunking booth known as dunk the director and partnering with local restaurants to help raise money for the cause.”

“We’re also trying something new to get more alumni and students studying abroad involved this year through social media,” added Kevin Dunn, a senior from Winston-Salem who is a member of the WFU basketball team and executive director for the event. “We are encouraging study abroad students to send us a photo of them running in their country, whether that be by Big Ben, the Sydney Harbour or wherever they are running or walking, and they’ll get laps for their team as well.”

The event will kick off with remarks from Wake Forest President Susan Wente, Shea Kidd Brown, vice president for campus life, and Dr. Katherine Ansley, associate professor in the department of internal medicine and breast cancer disease group leader at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Each team will receive a backpack filled with sand that they can hand off to other members after completing their laps. It’s a symbolic gesture that means carrying the weight for a common cause. 

Student Impact

Wake Forest students lead the initiative with three student directors and nine student committee members. They work with the OCCE, other campus departments and community partners. This includes local businesses and national corporate sponsors.

Theo Berson, a junior director from Avon, Connecticut majoring communications, is leading an effort to boost participation for first-year students.

“For the first time, every first-year residence hall will each have their own team, so it will reduce any barriers and encourage participation, he said. “We are really excited about creating an inclusive first-year experience and keeping this tradition strong on campus for years to come.”

“We realize that this event is an introduction to Wake and shows what it means to embrace Pro Humanitate and see the community come together, Kamath said.”

Last year was a record-breaking year for the event with more than 1,700 people participating and more than $300,000 raised for the Piccolo Fund to support the fight against cancer.

After that experience, Berson and other students were part of a group that was invited to tour the Comprehensive Cancer Center. He said it gave him a new lens about the impact of Hit the Bricks.

“My stepdad and my grandpa both had cancer at the same time last year. They’re both doing well now, but it’s something that hit me very hard very quickly,” he said. “So, getting to go to the hospital, see where this money is going, and talk with the doctors and patients, you see the impact that we can make as a community. Last year was a wake-up call that cancer can hit you at any point and impacts so many people and families.”

A time of reflection

At the end of the event at 7 p.m., a silent final remembrance lap for cancer victims and survivors will take place, followed by a luminary ceremony in front of Wait Chapel. A student champion also will share a personal story about how cancer has impacted their life. 

The total amount raised will be announced at the end of the closing ceremony.

Hit the Bricks has raised over $1.5 million since it began in 2003. Wake Forest University also hosts other events to support research and programs at the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Since 1980, the cumulative total raised for the Brian Piccolo Fund is over $6.5 million.