For four decades now, Walt Pomroy has endured the dog days of summer by camping out on Belgrade Street and selling hotdogs and sodas to raise money to fight muscular dystrophy.

"I started in 1970 with a plastic milk bottle, and then someone told me I should sell hot dogs," Pomroy said in explaining the modest roots of his marathon charity effort.

"It's a lot of hard work, but it's worth it," said Pomroy, who just turned 63, but works with the pace of a much younger man when customers arrive.

"Is that food for sale?" asked Ivan Cuevas as he stopped his SUV in front of Walt's setup. Cuevas, a Fishtown native who recently moved back to the neighborhood from Brooklyn, ordered two hot dogs and set Walt in motion, quickly preparing the hotdogs to order with ketchup and mustard.

And if you haven't stumbled upon Pomroy, he is impossible to miss if you travel along Belgrade Street toward Marlborough and Oxford streets.

Two signs at the corner of Belgrade and Marlborough advertise Walt's hotdog-soda combo for $1.50 - one sign with a caricature of Jerry Lewis, and a second with a cartoon rendering of Walt in a chef's hat, donning an apron that reads "I (heart) the Mummers."

Also, an overhead banner extends the width of Belgrade Street at Oxford Street, marking Pomroy's location, where he will remain seven days a week until the annual telethon wraps up on Sept. 7.

Pomroy starts his operation every day at 7 a.m., setting up his propane grill, coolers full of soda, serving tables, and a tent for much-needed shade on particularly hot days. Walt also has use of the vacant corner parcel, where he sets up a camping tent to house his supplies for the day.

It was the owner of the house on that now-vacant parcel who first encouraged Pomroy to collect money for the annual muscular dystrophy telethon. The lot is now owned by Pierson Kang, who operates a small metal manufacturing concern across the street.

Kang said it has been his pleasure to allow Pomroy to use the lot for a charitable cause. He said Walt also cleans graffiti off his company's building, and generally knows everyone and everything about the neighborhood.

"We call him the mayor," joked Kang.

But Pomroy is just that well-known. Each year, he receives donations from local businesses for his effort. This year, donations have come from businesses like D&B Shamrock Deli, Atlantic Ice, Mandy's, Ann's and Fishtown Beverage.

Neighbors also have stepped up with donations, said Pomroy. On his opening day last week, neighbor Dennis Hill stopped by with a soda donation.

A Northern Liberties native, Pomroy has lived on Belgrade Street for 39 years. His mother, Mary Houseberg, sat under the shade tent on Walt's opening day last week to show her support.

"I'm very proud of him," said Houseberg.

Walt has also received other donations. This year, the cartoon signs of him as a grill chef come from Anna Nidra of the Adair school, where Pomroy also does volunteer work.

Pomroy said customers to his hotdog stand range from neighbors on foot to commuters in cars.

"Sometimes I'll get a load of contractors in a truck that stop by," said Pomroy.

Last year, Pomroy raised about $1,600 for the telethon. This year, he's aiming for $2,100 as a personal challenge. Each year, he presents the funds to Channel 17 host Steve Highsmith at the local telethon inside the Marriott hotel in center city.