Pram Man makes light of his years to hit £150,000 mark

A TIRELESS fundraiser who walks the streets of Sheffield wearing a green wig to raise cash for charity finished his latest challenge yesterday – on his 73rd birthday.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jan 2012, 06:00 BST

John Burkhill has become a familiar site in the city in recent years and has become known as the “man with the pram”.

Mr Burkhill pushes a pram as he walks along, which is decorated with the logo of Macmillan Cancer Support.

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His latest marathon hike has seen him cover the same 15-mile course every day since December 1, and he said he only had Christmas Day off on the orders of his family.

Mr Burkhill, a former lorry driver from Darnall, Sheffield, was sponsored by a chain of convenience stores for the 500-mile trek and the £5,000 raised this time means he has broken through the £150,000 barrier.

After arriving at the finishing line in Herries Road, Sheffield, Mr Burkhill said: “I feel great. I really enjoy the walking and would have walked on Christmas Day if the family hadn’t ordered me to take a day off.

“I want to raise £250,000 for Macmillan, and I’ve already got some more events lined up.

“So far I have done 861 marathons or half-marathons, but I want to make it to 1,000 before I give up”.

Mr Burkhill started fundraising after the deaths of his wife June and daughter Karen.

Related topics:John BurkhillSheffieldMacmillan Cancer Support