Man with the Pram John Burkhill is far from done - he's preparing for 2026 Sheffield Half Marathon
Sheffield’s green-wigged fundraising superstar will be at the starting line of the city’s Half Marathon for his first race of 2026.
With 1,060 charity races under his belt and over £1.2m raised for cancer charity Macmillan, John Burkhill ended 2025 telling his fans: “I’m going to keep going as long as I can.”
Now, the Man with the Pram is ready for his first race of the year.
John will be at the Sheffield Half Marathon on March 29.
It is the first of seven races John is teed up for this year. Along with his weekly routes shaking his collection bucket as he pounds the streets of Sheffield , John is ready to take on:
- Sheffield Half Marathon – March 29
- Lincoln 10km – April 12
- Hull 10km – May 31
- Leeds 10km – June 14
- Yorkshire 10km – August 2
- Sheffield 10km – September 27
- Yorkshire 10 Mile – October 18
You can also catch John at the reopening of the Devonshire Arms on Herries Road at 6pm on March 26, where the green-wigged celebrity will cut the ribbon.
A household name in Sheffield, John, 87, is the man who in May 2023 was formally recognised for singlehandedly raising £1m for Macmillan Cancer Support through decades of marathons, bucket rattles and weekly walks through the city centre.
He runs in memory of his beloved wife June, his daughter Karen, and his daughter-in-law Diane.
He wrote in a post to his fans on Facebook on January 27: “I’m gearing up for another year of races. Every mile I push this pram is for June, for our Karen, and for everyone Macmillan supports. Your kindness keeps me going, it really does.
“If you see me out in Sheffield, feel free to give me a wave, it always gives me a bit of a boost. And if you’re at any of these races, I’d love for you to say hello.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking by me. Together, we’ll keep making a difference for people who need Macmillan’s support.”
You can support John by donating to his JustGiving page here, where he is already well on his way to his second million.
A spokesperson for Macmillan said in December: "John is truly one in a million. Every step he takes with his much-loved pram has made a real difference to people living with cancer and their families and it was a special moment sharing with John when he hit the £1.2 million milestone earlier this month. It was incredibly humbling to walk with John through Sheffield city centre a few weeks ago and witness firsthand the warmth and admiration he inspires.
“We are so grateful to John and to the amazing people of Sheffield who have supported him along the way. Thank you! John you are a true Sheffield legend!”
If you are living with cancer, or supporting someone who is, Macmillan is here for you. Call its Support Line for free on 0808 808 0000 from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week, or visit www.macmillan.org.uk.