'Man with the Pram' John Burkhill's legacy set in stone at unveiling of Sheffield Legends walk of fame plaque
We always knew he was a star
A Sheffield icon’s legacy was set in stone for all to see.
Hundreds turned out to cheer outside Town Hall on Tuesday (September 29) to see a new star unveiled on the Sheffield Legends walk of fame.
The unmistakable pram parked at the top of the steps and the green wigs bobbing through the crowd made it clear there could be only one man behind it all - The Man with the Pram, John Burkhill.
After more than 25 years of fundraising, over 1,050 charity races, a Pride of Britain Award and a trailblazing £1.227m raised for MacMillan Cancer Support, The Mad Walker was today honoured with a plaque in the city centre for all time.
The 87-year-old marathon runner was welcomed to the stage by award-winning journalist Andy Kershaw to a minute of unbroken applause from the crowd.
“It’s a pleasure to be here today and see so many happy faces,” said John, dressed in his signature MacMillan top and iconic green wig.
“We’re at £1.25m now, with help of the people of Sheffield and the people of Yorkshire, Mike Tomlinson’s RunForAll races - we get round all these races, and I’ll keep running for a bob or two.
“Everyone who puts one penny in that bucket is one penny more than we had the day before and it makes a lot of difference.
“I see wonderful, wonderful happy people here today and it’s a great honour to be here.”
John also recited his now-famous poem, ‘My Sheffield, My Home,’ which left households across the UK in tears when he read it at the Pride of Britain Awards 2023.
The plaque - which was covered by a red velvet drape and a green wig - was unveiled to cheers before throngs of his fans, family and closest friends pressed in to congratulate him.
Andy Kershaw opened the ceremony by saying: “Welcome to the unveiling for the latest Sheffield Legends plaque, for a man who is himself a living legend in our city and beyond - a man who needs no introduction whatsoever because he has the most recognisable face, hair covering and trademark in the whole country.
“Just on Saturday night, we were at the concert at City Hall for the Everly Pregnant Brothers and the Philharmonic Orchestra, and halfway through on comes John Burkhill to a standing ovation from 2,000 visitors from around the world.”
The Mad Walker smashed his ‘Magic Million’ in May 2023 after two decades of fundraising through decades of marathons, bucket rattles and weekly walks through the city centre.
He began his pram-pushing mission after losing his daughter, Karen, and wife, June, to cancer in 1992 and 1993. The pram is the very one he and June raised Karen in, and today the carriage is a Sheffield icon itself.
The inspirational runner told The Star how he had “tears in his eyes” as he learned he had hit his goal - but, in the years since, has shown no signs of slowing as he aims for his second million.
John is set to run his next race, the Yorkshire 10 Mile, on October 18.