WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Wake Forest University community is raising awareness by dancing for a good cause, but this year they're doing it online to help with social distancing.

The annual 12-hour “Wake ’N Shake” dance marathon raises money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund and the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Brian Piccolo was a former Wake Forest All-American football player who died of cancer while playing for the NFL’s Chicago Bears.

“He’s been gone for 50 years and the fact that people still remember him so warmly and are still so driven to raise money in his name is just an incredible honor,” said Tracie Piccolo Dolby, daughter of Brian Piccolo. “And an incredible thing when you think about it.”
 
Last year, the dance-a-thon raised over $400,000 and organizers hope to exceed that goal this year. 

“Unifying the whole entire student body because cancer has effected everyone, it’s just something that’s inescapable,” said Kylie Reed. “So, it's just a really unique way to unite our whole student body for one common cause.”