Terry Fox's dad named grand marshal of Santa Claus Parade

The Rogers Santa Claus Parade has named Rolly Fox, the father of Terry Fox, as the event’s grand marshal.

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The appointment is in honour of the 35th anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope.

“We’re very happy to have Rolly there on behalf of the family and the Terry Fox Run,” Norman Stowe with the Rogers Santa Claus Parade told Vancity Buzz.

“The parade is a local event and having a local grand marshal like Rolly Fox on this special anniversary just makes sense.”

This will be the 12th annual Santa Claus Parade. It attracts over 300,000 spectators to downtown Vancouver every year.

The parade will happen December 6 at 1 p.m., starting at Georgia and Broughton and will feature over 3,500 participants with more than 60 marching bands, choirs, festive floats, and community groups.

The Santa Claus Parade has raised more than $141,000 and more than 75,400 pounds of food for the Food Bank and families in need.

Terry Fox launched a cross-country journey in Newfoundland in April 1980 to raise money for cancer research, inspired by his own bout of cancer that cost him one of his legs. His journey was cut short after running more than 5,300 kilometres when his cancer came back.

Fox passed away in June 1981, but his legacy lives on. He raised more than $23 million before his death and the Terry Fox Foundation has since raised $650 million for cancer research.