Kidney fund-raiser on at Addington tonight

Just because there's no racing at Addington tonight doesn't mean there's nothing going on.

The Keep Them Close fund-raiser will be held at the Christian Cullen Lounge, with doors opening at 5pm and a big crowd's expected.

The event is to support Brooke and Robbie Close. Brooke needs a kidney transplant and husband Robbie will be her donor.

Diagnosed with kidney failure last December, Brooke has been off work since July and on dialysis five hours a day, three days a week.

The operation will take place in November.

Tonight's fund-raiser is a quiz night with at least 350 confirmed to take part.

Half of the money raised will go to the Closes to help them financially as they recover from their surgeries while the other 50 per cent will go to the Christchurch Kidney Society.

The Closes have been overwhelmed by the support shown to them by the harness racing community and others.

What : Keeping Them Close Quiz Night
When : Friday 30 October - Doors 5pm, quiz starts 6.30pm
Where : Christian Cullen Lounge, Addington Raceway
Cost : $100 per team, teams of up to four 

Tonight Crystal Hackett (Robbie's cousin) will wear a special set of colours to raise awareness for kidney disease at Auckland's meeting  and Robbie himself will do the same at Kaikoura.