Cancer Council Victoria is encouraging Ballarat City locals to get girls together this October by hosting a Girls’ Night In, to support local women diagnosed with a breast or gynaecological cancer.

All funds raised through Girls’ Night In go towards Cancer Council’s work in vital research, prevention and support services for women’s cancers.

In Ballarat City, for the three years from 2015 to 2017, 230 local women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 93 diagnosed with a form of gynaecological cancer (such as cervical, ovarian, vulva and uterine cancers).

This year, Cancer Council Victoria aim to recruit 700 Victorian women to host their own Girls’ Night In, with the aim of raising $500,000.

Cancer Council Victoria’s Head of Community Engagement Lyrian Fleming-Parsley said it’s easy for local women to get involved by simply registering to host an event, inviting your girlfriends over for a night in and asking them to donate what they would have spent on a night out.

“Breast and gynaecological cancers touch many lives in one form or another. Many of our mothers, our grandmas, daughters, sisters, and friends have been affected. Hosting or attending a Girls’ Night In event isn’t only an opportunity to raise much-needed funds for women’s cancers; it can also raise much-needed awareness about early detection and cancer prevention.”

“A third of cancers can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices and taking part in the recommended screening programs for your age-group. Getting together with the girls and starting these conversations is a great way to spread awareness and perhaps change someone’s life,” said Ms Fleming-Parsley.

“Thanks to advancements in prevention, detection and treatment, woman diagnosed with breast cancer now have a 91 per cent chance of surviving for five years. Furthermore, the introduction of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, along with the National Cervical Screening Program, has resulted in cervical cancer being set to become eradicated in Australia by 2022.”

“These improvements are thanks to investment in research, prevention and support because of fundraisers like Girls’ Night In.”

Ms Fleming-Parsley said hosts can make their event as big or as small as they like – a casual dinner party, a dress-up movie night, a pampering session.

“The possibilities are endless and any event you host will help support women affected by breast or gynaecological cancer. Cancer Council is the only charity in Australia that funds research into breast and gynaecological cancers while also providing support for women affected. We rely on the community to help us continue our work,” explained Ms Fleming-Parsley.

Register to host a Girls’ Night In this October and donate the money you would spend to Cancer Council’s vital work in research, prevention and support for women’s cancers. For more information, visit www.girlsnightin.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85.