About Us

Hit the Bricks is Wake Forest’s annual philanthropic event that aims to raise awareness and funds for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund.

Brian Piccolo, a 1965 graduate of Wake Forest, was a football star for both the WFU Demon Deacons and the Chicago Bears. In 1969,  he was diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma and lost his battle with cancer in 1970. Ten years later, students began the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, supporting Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In 2003, students held the first Hit the Bricks event, raising $3,000 for the fund. Today, over 2,500 participants, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni, compete to raise the most money and run the most laps around the quad.

In its 20+ year history, participants have run over 400,000 laps and have surpassed over $2,000,000 in fundraising. Our community has raised over $7.5 million for the fund since 1980. Every lap, every dollar, every Deac is making a difference!