Terry Fox's father, Rolland Fox, diagnosed with lung cancer

Terry Fox's father, Rolland (Rolly)Fox, has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The family made the announcement Tuesday in a statement onthe Terry Fox Foundation website.

"It is with heavy hearts that we wish to share with Terry Foxers from coast to coast and around the world that our Dad and Grandfather, Rolland (Rolly) Fox, has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer," said the statement.

"He remains in very good spirits, confirmed by the dated and overused humour we are forced to endure."

RollyFox will turn81in March. The post states he started smoking at age 19 but quit 30 years ago.

A resident of Port Coquitlam, Foxis described as a "behind-the-scenes believer of Terry's mission for 36 years."

Betty Fox, Terry's mom, passed awayin 2011.

Terry Fox is one of the most beloved Canadians in history because of his 1980 Marathon of Hopean attemptto run across Canada on a prosthetic leg to raise money for cancer research.

Foxlost his right leg to cancer in 1977when he was 18.

After running 5,000 kilometres Terry was forced to stopafterthecancer spread to his lungs.He diedon June 28, 1981 at age 22.

To date, over $650-million has been raised for cancer researchthrough the Terry Fox Foundation and the Terry Fox Run, staged annually across Canada and around the world.