But 69-year-old John Burkhill has now resurrected the walk not just once but 74 times over, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Every day since September, except some Sundays, he has started out from High Street in the city centre and completed the route, collecting donations in an old pram along the way.

The sprightly grandfather, well-known in Sheffield for fundraising with his pram, decided to re-trace the route 74 times to match the number of times the walk had been held over the years.

Yesterday afternoon he finally completed his epic 900-mile challenge at Hillsborough Arena.

Mr Burkhill, from the Richmond area of Sheffield, said: "Many thanks to everyone in Sheffield for all their donations en route and for the wonderful support I have received over the past two to three months while completing my challenge.

"There have been a number of very cold and wet days when the words of encouragement received have really made a big difference."

Mr Burkhill has raised more than £120,000 for charity over the years and is the proud holder of almost 300 medals and countless certificates.

The pram-pushing tradition began by accident on a starting line more than two decades ago when one competitor, who pulled a muscle, was unable to push a pram he had intended to take round the course and Mr Burkhill took it for him.

He said: "It was a lot of fun, and then it started to be my trademark. Now, when I go past the crowds spectators throw money in it."

He decided to aid Macmillan after losing both his wife and daughter to cancer in 1992.

Macmillan area fundraising manager Steve Loane said: "John is a real star and we thank him for all the time and effort he has put into this challenge and all his other fundraising for Macmillan.

"We rely entirely on voluntary donations to deliver our local cancer support services."