THE Kent Messenger Group helps organise a number of heats of the KM Big Quiz around the county each year.

Each year more than £20,000 is raised for charity at the events. Volunteers in each community attempt to create Kent's largest charity wine and wisdom evening.

Events take place in Canterbury in March, Maidstone in July, Medway in September and Ashford in November. Two teams from each event are invited to compete in the county final at the Shepherd Neame Brewery in Faversham.

Next event:

THE Medway Messenger is aiming to break the record for the biggest charity quiz night ever held in the county and is inviting readers to enter teams.

Tickets for Big Quiz 2006 are now on sale and are expected to sell out fast, so quiz-goers are advised to get their teams organised as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment.

The quiz will take place at the Black Lion Leisure Centre, Gillingham from 7pm on Friday, September 22, and tickets can be bought using the application form printed on this page.

Causes to benefit from the proceeds are: the League of Friends of Medway Hospital, Kent Autistic Trust, Brompton, Gillingham, and the award winning children’s road safety charity Kent Walking Bus Project.

The cost for a table of eight people is £48, which is £6 per person. The ticket price includes a ploughman’s meal and complimentary glass of wine.

To break the record event organisers need to attract more than 63 teams of eight people. The current record was set at a charity event held in Canterbury in March.

Simon Dolby, who is chairman of the KM Walking Bus Project and will be questionmaster at the charity event, said the evening would appeal to the serious quiz-goer as well as groups just there for a fun night out.

He said: "Questions will be carefully selected to ensure everyone enjoys themselves.

"There will be a mix of easy ones to appeal to the quiz novices, as well as a number of tougher brain-teasers to guarantee the eventual winner has earned it!"

He stressed that the KM Big Quiz was a team event and that individuals would not have a spotlight turned on them and be asked to answer questions.

A number of sponsors have already agreed to support the KM Big Quiz with Medway Council providing the venue at a reduce price and P&O Ferries donating vouchers for all eight members of the winning team to take a car and up to nine passengers to France for an extended trip.

Two of the beneficiaries from the evening are also providing expertise to ensure it is a success. The League of Friends will be organising the ploughman’s meals and the Walking Bus Project is taking the lead in organising the evening, supported by KM staff.

Mr Dolby added: "We are keen to hear from other companies interested in sponsoring this event, either by providing prizes for the winners on the night, or by sponsoring quiz rounds."

To have a quiz round named after your business or organisation costs £100 in sponsorship. For information call Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752.

To book a table for eight quiz-goers send a cheque for £48 made payable to Kent Messenger Group. This should be sent to: KM Big Quiz, c/o Victoria Sanderson, Medway Messenger, Medway House, Ginsbury Close, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Medway City Estate, Rochester ME2 4DU.

Related websites:

www.kentwalkingbus.org

www.autismkent.org