Help beat cancer by hosting your own 'Girls Night In.'

I’ve never hosted a Cancer Council Girls’ Night In before, and I have no idea why.

I’m the perfect candidate, because:

• Two friends have bravely battled breast cancer and won.
• Another friend fought hard against genetic cancer and lost.
• It’s been ages since I’ve seen my closest girlfriends.
• I love hosting any event that involves food.
• Raising funds to go towards cancer research is something I have always wanted to do more of.

Because sadly, there aren’t many of us who haven’t been touched by cancer in one way or another, whether it’s through breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, cancer of the vulva or uterine cancer.

You may have loved ones who have fought the disease and won, or lost. You may have been through the terror of thinking you may have cancer, only to find out that you didn’t have it and feeling the incredible rush of relief.

Thanks to excellent work of organisations like Cancer Council and their awesome fundraising ideas such as Girls’ Night In, we are getting closer and closer to beating cancer or better still, preventing anyone from getting it in the first place.

To do your bit to help, all you need to do to host a Girls’ Night In this year is to pick a date in October or November and register your event here to receive your free Host Kit. Then write up your guest list, think of a theme and send out invitations via social media, with constant text message reminders with food suggestions so that nobody doubles up on dishes. Unless the double up is brownies. Lots of chewy, delicious brownies is always a good idea (always in moderation, of course).

You can choose any theme you like. Mine will obviously involve coffee, tea and as many baked goods as I can organise. I’m not the best baker in the world but my mum, sister and brother are excellent. Choosing the theme is half the fun. Or you can design the entire event around a special friend.

Kirsty Gardner is a veteran when it comes to hosting Girls’ Night In events. She is my guru. This year she’ll be hosting her sixth event and it’s become so big, it now requires the local town hall to fit all of the 500 people expected to attend.

The town hall now donates its space to Kirsty and lots of local businesses make donations to the event. I will be calling every Italian pastry shop later today asking for donations. Bring on the pastries.

I know exactly how great my event is going to be. Just to see my friends for a long-overdue catch up will be incredible, and knowing we are doing it for such a good cause is even better.

We all seem to be at that age where we’ve had friends and family battle serious illness. Some of us have even lost parents since we last saw each other. Being there for each other is what it is all about – just talking about those things that are important to us and sharing information and advice.

All the good things about life — friendship, sisterhood and loyalty — in one location. And surrounded by baked goods.

What theme will you choose for your ‘Girls’ Night In?’