| Other Names: | The Man with the Pram |
| Birth Name: | Harold John Burkhill |
| Birth Place: | Darnall, Sheffield, UK |
| Known For: | Raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support |
Harold John Burkhill (born January 1939) is an English fundraiser who was awarded a British Empire Medal for his effort, particularly to fight cancer. Since 2007, he has been raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support under the moniker "Man with the Pram" while dressed in an outfit consisting of a green curly wig.
In May 2023, he raised over £1million for Macmillan Cancer Support.[1] [2] He began working in fundraising in 1967:[3] He has run in every Sheffield marathon since 1982. Burkhill was chosen to carry the Olympic torch in Chapeltown on 25 June 2012.
Burkhill started donning the "Man with the Pram" outfit in 2007. One of his biggest motivations to raise money for Cancer research was when his wife June died in 1993 from cancer aged 55. John's wife died the same day their grandchild Daniel was born.[4] As of May 2024, Burkhill has competed in 1,045 races that raise money for charity, including the London Marathon.[5]
His "Man with the Pram" character includes wearing a green shirt with "Macmillan Cancer Support" written on it, a green curly wig, a stuffed teddy bear called "Biggles", which is inside a pram that was his daughter Karen's, a pram he bought for her for £4.10 in 1961.[6] [7] A film about Burkhill was made in 2020.
Harold John Burkhill was born in Darnall, Sheffield in January 1939. He was married to June until her death from cancer in 1993, aged 55. In 1991, their daughter, Karen, died at age 29 from complications sustained after surgery. Burkhill now lives in Richmond Park, in Sheffield. In the 1960s, John worked as a truck driver.
For the 2013 New Year Honours, Burkhill was awarded the British Empire Medal.[8] In 2023, he won the Pride of Britain Awards for ITV fundraiser of the year.[9] Also in 2023, then prime minister Rishi Sunak named John Points of Light, an award which recognises volunteers, charity leaders and community champions..[10]