Sheffield’s iconic ‘man with a pram’ has said he is close to reaching his £1m fundraising target for a cancer care charity.
John Burkhill, from Handsworth, can be seen around Sheffield almost every day, dressed in a curly green wig and pushing a decorated pram.
The pram belonged to his daughter, who died in 1991. This was followed shortly after by the death of John’s wife from cancer.
Since then, he has made it his mission to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity that supports people with the disease and their families.
Now Mr Burkhill said he has raised over £900,000, and is close to hitting seven digits.
“I think we’ll likely hit it early next year, but I’m hopeful that one of my Christmas day walks might tip it over,” he said.
But it’s not just walks he does. Despite being in his mid-80s, John is a regular at marathons and this March completed the Sheffield Half in three hours and 51 minutes.
“I do a lot of marathons, all over the country,” he said.
“I’ve done London, the Great North Run, New York. And I always take the pram with me. Everyone knows this mad bloke from Sheffield with a pram.”
John’s pram is decorated with flags, tinsel and even christmas lights. It also carries the teddy bear that belonged to his wife.
John’s friend Doreen Birch said: “He’s a good bloke and a good collector.
“I love him, me. If owt happened to him it’d break my heart.”
