A student-organized fundraiser at Wake Forest University, Hit the Bricks, drew more than 2,264 participants on October 1, setting a new record for attendance at a student-led fundraising event at the university. The annual event supports the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund and this year raised over $348,000 for cancer research and patient support at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
The number of teams also reached a new high, with 160 groups taking part in laps around Hearn Plaza. Preliminary fundraising totals were announced during the closing ceremony.
“I love seeing everyone across the Wake Forest community participate in this event,” said Theo Berson, a senior communications major from Avon, Connecticut, and executive director of this year’s Hit the Bricks. “My focus for the last four years has been student engagement and getting the most participants possible, and we have now broken the Wake Forest philanthropy record.”
The Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund was established by students in 1980 to honor Brian Piccolo, a former Wake Forest football player who died from embryonal cell carcinoma at age 26 while playing for the Chicago Bears. His life was depicted in the film “Brian’s Song.”
This year’s event included Traci Piccolo Dolby among its runners. Dolby was a toddler when her father died. At the closing ceremony, she received a portrait of Brian Piccolo painted by junior Kyan Patel. The artwork is intended as the first in a series that will explore connections between athletics and student life.
Dolby spoke about her experiences returning to campus: “The way you continue to honor his legacy is something I don’t even have words for,” she said.
Last year’s Hit the Bricks event raised $311,913. Since its inception in 2003, Hit the Bricks has generated more than $2 million for cancer research through contributions to the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund.
