THE Kent Messenger media group is aiming to break the record for the biggest charity quiz night ever held in the county and is inviting those involved with walk to school schemes in the county to enter teams.

Tickets for Big Quiz 2008 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 Body and Mind Sports Hall, Knight Avenue, Canterbury from 7pm on Friday, March 28, and tickets can be bought using a credit or debit card from the KM Big Quiz section of the website www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk

Four causes will benefit from the proceeds raised on the night. These are the Canterbury district branch of the RSPCA, League of Friends at Canterbury Hospital, Lady Mayoress of Canterbury's Charity Appeal and the award winning children's road safety charity, Kent Walking Bus project.

The cost for a table of eight people remains at £60, as it has done for the last two years, which is £7.50 per person. The ticket price includes a ploughman's meal and a complimentary glass of wine.

The 2007 Canterbury event smashed both the record for the largest charity quiz night ever staged in Kent and the record for the amount raised and event organisers are keen to match or better last year's performance. £10,000 was raised and 76 teams took part.

While Canterbury holds the record for the largest amount raised for charity the Ashford KM Big Quiz attracted 84 teams at an event held at the Stour Centre in the autumn. Canterbury Big Quiz organisers hope to snatch back the record.

Simon Dolby,Kent Messenger Community and Charity Projects' Manager and chairman of the Walking Bus charity, will be questionmaster at the charity event. He said the evening would appeal to the serious quiz-goer as well as groups just there for a fun night out.

Mr Dolby 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 ofsponsors have already agreed to support the KM Big Quiz with the Body and MindSports Centre providing the venue for free, Serco agreeing to be a main sponsor of the night, 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.

Shepherd Neame will organise the charity Spitfire bar and the League of Friends at Canterbury Hospital will take charge of the ploughman's meals on the night.

One of the beneficiaries from the evening is also providing expertise to ensure it is asuccess. Staff and volunteers from the Kent Walking Bus project will join KM staff in taking the lead in organising the evening.

The top teams from the evening will be invited to a county final to take on the winners from the KM Big Quiz events held at Ashford, Maidstone and Medway later this year. This is expected to be held in December and will be organised in conjunction with Kent brewer Shepherd Neame.

Mr Dolbysaid: "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 a minimum of £100 insponsorship. For information call Mr Dolby on 07989 164 752.

Competing for extra honours

STAFF who work in the NHS, support the League of Friends or work in local government are just some of the organisations who will compete for extra honours at the KM BigQuiz.

A special shield will be presented to the top team representing local government teams taking part and a second award will go to the highest placed team from the NHS or League of friends.

These two mini competitions will allow rival political parties and departments at district or county council to flex their intellectual muscles and show thepublic who is top of the greasy pole when it comes to brain power - council officers, politicians or the humble parish council.

The NHS mini competition allows the same rivalry between GP and dental practices, departments across the health service and the volunteers that support their work.

Other organisations wanting to take part in a mini competition of their own at the KM Big Quiz need to have a minimum of four teams entered. Organisers will provide a prize for all mini competition winners. Team captains must indicate on their booking form if they wish to take part in a mini competition by writing NHS Competition or Council Competition on the booking form.