A couple is battling to salvage their severely disabled son's annual birthday gala after the cost of living crisis led to plummeting ticket sales.

Daniel Grant and Natalie Rhodes, of Epsom Close, Gravesend, fear they will have to make the heartbreaking decision to cancel the party - which could be their son's last - after failing to break even on the cost of hosting the bash this year.

Bobby Rhodes, 12, was born with Lissencephaly or "smooth brain" and his parents have organised the party every year, barring Covid, in a bid to raise the funds needed to care for him.

This year Bobby, who had a life expectancy of just two years old when he was born, is turning 13 and the couple wanted to make the milestone birthday the best yet. But they are struggling to sell the tickets.

Natalie said: "It makes him so happy. He loves the party. Anything social and loud. He loves the music and the lights. One year the band let him bang on the drum. It was great."

She said when Bobby was born he was only given two years to live so the family were desperate to make every second with their son as amazing as possible.

"We wanted to make his one and only the birthday the best it could be," she said.

But the family were over-the-moon when, after enjoying his second birthday, Bobby's prognosis changed and they were told he would likely survive until he was 10 years old.

"It was a milestone we were dreading coming along," she said. "But now here we are now."

Bobby's condition means he is non-verbal, non weight bearing, suffers global delay, and has epilepsy. He needs 24-hour care and the family have spent thousands adapting their home to cater for his needs.

The couple first began hosting the parties when Bobby was about to turn two years old as a way to raise the £6,500 needed to buy a specially-adapted cot bed.

The party was a big success. They raised the necessary cash and Bobby had a great evening with his friends and family. Since then, each party has boosted a fund the family have set up to pay for anything Bobby needs because of his condition.

Daniel, who stays at home to care for his step son, said: "When we go away with the children, if an activity costs more because of his disability we can use the money to allow him to do it. Paulton's Park in Hampshire is the only theme park where he can go on every ride so we like to go there, but it's quite a distance so we have to stay overnight. Bobby's funding helps pay for that."

The couple also have two other children Joshua, 16, and Arthur, six, who has his own medical issues having been born with half a heart, and has already endured three open heart surgeries.

Now Bobby is about to turn 13, his seizures have started to get worse.

Natalie, who works with adults with disabilities in Rochester, said: "We have noticed the difference. Now we really want this birthday to be the best ever."

Despite the increased cost of living the couple have kept their ticket sales fixed at £45 for the past eight years but the venue has hiked-up the cost of hosting the event this year and if they don't sell all the tickets the couple will make a loss.

"We understand it's hard," Daniel said. "If you are buying two tickets that is £90 off your electricity bill. We have kept the price the same since 2018 for the very reason that life is expensive these days."

When the couple got the figures back for the party this year they discovered they were being charged almost double last year's price. The annual bash is held at St George Hotel in New Road Avenue, Chatham

"Last year it was £19 a head but this time we got the costs through and it is now £30 a head. We don't want to increase the price for anyone. We just need to sell all the tickets to break even. At the moment we would lose £7 a head," said Daniel.

The couple have considered changing the venue, but cannot find a hall big enough to host the guests they have already secured and that has the added bonus of somewhere to stay for those guests who are travelling.

"We did think about that but we have already sold 15 tickets and so other halls they have at the hotel are now too small. We like to have it at the hotel as people are coming some distance and they can stay the night," Daniel said.

"With ticket sales we have always said we would be happy to break even and then make the money on the night with raffles. We need to sell 30 more tickets to break even."

The gala has its own red carpet, a three-course meal, two bottles of complementary wine per table and plenty of games and dancing, on Saturday, May 27.

For tickets email Daniel on Pogrant17@hotmail.com.