Australian women are big spenders when it comes to going out despite the economic downturn, according to a survey conducted by Cancer Council for its annual Girls Night in fundraising initiative.

The Girls Night In-dex* found that almost 1 in 2 Aussie women will spend an average of $75 on a night out.

The Girls Night In-dex reveals that if the 200,000 women expected to participate in this year’s fundraiser donated $75 from an average night out, an incredible $15 million would be raised for the women’s cancer cause.

As Jodie Wainwright, National Event Manager for Girls Night In explains, “The Girls Night In-dex shows that women still spend a substantial amount when they go out. So there’s an opportunity for Australian women to make a real difference by hanging up their high heels for just one night and donating their nightlife money to charity instead.”

The survey shows that the majority of Australian women (64%) admit that going out takes a large chunk out of their disposable income:

• Over 1 in 3 women will spend between 10-20% of their income on nightlife activity.
• 15% will spend 20-30% of their income on hitting the town.

For Girls Night In, Australian women are encouraged to stay in with their girlfriends for one night during October, and donate the money they’d normally spend on a night out to Cancer Council. Funds raised go towards research, prevention, information and support services in the field of women’s cancers - breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine and vaginal cancers.

The cause is clearly a vital one with a staggering 71% of Australian women saying they know someone who has suffered from some form of women’s cancer.

And despite their penchant for nightlife, Aussie women say they’re also happy to stay in at home because it’s more intimate to catch up with friends (87%) and they don’t have to dress up (85%).

“With so many Aussie women affected by women’s cancers in some way, there’s never been a better reason to get the girls together for a fun Girls Night In and support women’s cancers at the same time,” Wainwright said.

ABOUT GIRLS NIGHT IN:
• Girls Night In is a national fundraising initiative of Cancer Council held during the month of October. It raises money specifically for women's cancers including breast, cervical, ovarian, vaginal and uterine cancers. Last year over 150,000 women joined together at more than 10,000 GNI events to raise $4.9 million for vital research, information, prevention and support services.

• One in three Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85, and more than 16,300 women are diagnosed with breast or gynaecological cancer each year (2005 Australian Cancer Incidence & Mortality Books), meaning, on average, 45 women will be told they have cancer every day.

• For further information or to register please visit www.girlsnightin.com.au.