THOUGHT raising money for charity was all about gruelling marathons?

Not any more. Have a relaxing night in this monthinaid of Macmillan Cancer Support, says Jane Hawkins.

When I spotted a Twitter comment about Macmillan Cancer Support’s latest fundraising campaign a few weeks ago,I was instantly hooked.

The charity, whichsupports people affected by cancer,is rallying people tohost a ‘Really Good Night In’ onFriday, April 26.

It’s a simple idea – just gather up your friends and loved ones, invite them round for a night in and raise funds in the process by asking everybody to donate the cash they’d normally be spending on a night out at the pub, for instance.

Brilliant – no sweating it out on the running track required, and who doesn’t love a good catch-up with friends?

Macmillan is hoping groups of friends will raise at least £100 from their nights in. When you think how easy it is to squander almost half of that on a couple of rounds of drinks on a night out, hopefully that shouldn’t be too hard to achieve.

THE FACTS

Cancer affects us all. More than one in three of us will get some form of the disease at some point in our lifetime, and almost everybody knows somebody close to them who’s already been through it.It’s Macmillan’s aim that nobody should have to go through cancer alone.

WHY STAY IN?

Spending a Friday night in with friends comes with plenty of benefits: you don’t have to venture outside and face this freakishly cold spring for starters; you don’t have to shout over loud music and you won’t have an expensive taxi ride home.

There’s more to it than just relaxing with mates and doing good though. Macmillan Cancer Support is also encouraging participants to theme their evenings with some pampering, some practical tasks, or just some good old-fashioned eating.

Ex-Atomic Kitten and ITV’s Big Reunion star, Natasha Hamilton, is just one of the thousands of women already throwing her support behind the event.

“Whether it’s for cocktails and canapes or a chance to learn a new skill, whatever you do, you can do it in the knowledge that someone out there won’t have to fight cancer on their own thanks to your support,” she says.

Sign up now for your Really Good Night In fund-raising kit – packed with loys of great ideas – at macmillan.org.uk/nightin or call 0845 070 1318.