Ipswich parkrunners are being offered special discounts on a range of activities in return for keeping fit, thanks to a new initiative run by the council.

The Ipswich Fit sport and leisure service is offering all registered parkrun members money off sport and fitness iCards.

The only requirement is to sign up to the Ipswich parkrun and take part in at least one event – joining more than 400 people of all ages and abilities who enjoy running, jogging, walking and volunteering in Chantry Park every Saturday.

Andrew Wilesmith, sport and leisure services manager, said: “This initiative is about expanding what parkrun participants can do within Ipswich to help keep themselves active, particularly for families as we believe that the more families are active together, the more it becomes a habit for life. The iCard offers a huge range of activities for all ages and we want as many people to take advantage of these opportunities. We also hope this will encourage more people to take part in the parkrun.”

Graham Rodgers, Ipswich parkrun event director, said: “I am excited to be working with the borough council and aligning our goals. For me, parkrun is about improving the quality of people’s lives through exercise and social interaction. I hear many stories where individuals have seen an improvement in their emotional, mental and physical health as a consequence of parkrun.”