Data has revealed the extent to which parkrun is saving NHS England money in the treatment of key health conditions.

Parkruns are free, 5K events which take place every Saturday morning.

Over 1,200 are held at locations across the UK, with more than 225,000 people running or walking the courses each weekend.

A Keighley parkrun is staged in the grounds of Cliffe Castle.

The statistics from Sport England highlight direct cost savings to the NHS of £13.8m in the preventative treatment of depression, £13.5m for type 2 diabetes and £9.2m in reduced GP and hospital visits, as a result of people participating in parkrun.

Over 2,000 GP practices are part of a programme which sees them partner with parkrun events, so that the activity can be socially prescribed to patients with a range of physical and mental health conditions.

The programme’s role has been recognised as part of Government proposals to create a more preventative and community-based healthcare system – a priority outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan. It also includes the creation of 250 new neighbourhood health centres, initially focussed in areas of deprivation.

Elizabeth Duggan, chief executive officer of parkrun, says: “Over the past 20 years, parkrun has grown from a weekly community running event into a major public health intervention, helping reduce the burden on the NHS. But we can, and want to, do more to support the Government’s ambitions for a preventive and community-based healthcare system.

“We’d love to see our parkrun practice and social prescribing model integrated into the neighbourhood health centres.”

Modality AWC, which has GP practices across the Keighley area and Craven, is a major supporter of running events.

Executive partner, Dr Brendan Kennedy, says: “We’re always keen to support and promote events like parkrun as we see patients every day whose physical and mental health have been transformed by getting active and taking part in exercise and volunteering.

“We also sponsor the Keighley 10k and 5k, encouraging patients and staff to take part in events that improve health and make you feel great – whether you run, walk or just come along and support.

“Parkrun is a great way to get started, with its inclusive, friendly and positive atmosphere.”

For more about parkrun and the Cliffe Castle event, visit parkrun.org.uk/cliffecastle