It’s another record-setting year for Wake Forest’s Hit the Bricks
Students lead campus-wide effort to support cancer research
With the help of 2,406 runners and walkers, Hit the Bricks raised nearly $407,000 for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund during this year’s Oct. 1 event.
That beats last year’s record of 2,264 runners and walkers raising $360,000 for cancer research and patient services that the Piccolo Fund supports at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist’s Comprehensive Care Center.
Ellie DeMinico, the student executive director of this year’s fundraiser, said breaking the record took months of preparation and outreach across campus—but every minute was worth it.
“It’s special because this is one of the events … that really invites and encourages everyone on campus to participate,” she said. “That includes faculty and staff, members of Greek life, and clubs, organizations, sports teams, even student athletes, and members of our local community as well. It’s great to see everyone interacting on such a special day, and to be running and enjoying time together.”
This year’s lap total was 11,862.
Raising more than $2.1 million for cancer
Every year for 23 years, student leaders at Wake Forest have organized the run around the Quad to raise money for cancer research. With the story of alum Brian Piccolo to inspire them, students have raised more than $2.1 million and counting. This year’s total is still preliminary.
Piccolo, a Wake Forest All-American football player, lost his battle with embryonal cell carcinoma at the age of 26 while playing in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. The film “Brian’s Song” tells his story.
President Peter Rodriguez said Hit the Bricks comes up time and again when he asks what Wake Foresters cherish most about the University.
“I think there’s probably no better emblem of Pro Humanitate in action than seeing all the community come out, all the student groups come out … to honor the great legacy of one of the most important figures in the fight against cancer in our nation’s history, and that’s Brian Piccolo,” Rodriguez said during the event’s opening ceremony.
Wake Forest hosts other annual events to support research and programs for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, raising more than $6.5 million to date.
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