Macmillan Cancer Support’s companion event to the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning has raised £1.25m in its inaugural year.

A Really Good Night In, held in late April, was launched early this year by the cancer charity as an opportunity to attract a younger female demographic than the Coffee Morning, and to also enable those who enjoy the Coffee Morning to have a second event to organise around.

The £1.25m was raised both by event participants and corporate sponsor, female car insurance company Sheilas’ Wheels. This year was the first year of the event, which is one of a few new campaigns designed to compliment the Coffee Morning, which last year raised a record £15m. Some 30,000 participants got involved with A Reall Good Night In.

A Really Good Night In encouraged individuals to sign up to host a evening in with friends, who pay a donation to attend. Macmillan sent fundraising packs to hosts, and encouraged events which would cover the range from girly pamper night to few drinks and nibbles and crafty evening in.

The charity had hoped that “thousands” of hosts would sign up, and that each event would raise £100.

A Really Good Night In is not the only debut mass participation event to make a splash this year; Cancer Research UK’s Dryathlon, which encouraged people to abstain from alcohol throughout January and get sponsorship for the feat, raised £4m.

Macmillan is currently ramping up for this year’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, which last year reported a 50 per cent increase in fundraising income.