Gravesend dad brings Lapland home to give son once-in-a-lifetime gift
15:03, 13 December 2019
updated: 12:33, 17 December 2019
A dad of three is transforming himself into Santa in an effort to give his disabled son a once in a lifetime Christmas present.
Daniel Grant, 26, is set to turn his back garden in Epsom Close, Gravesend, into a magical Santa's grotto for other disabled children in an effort to raise money for his nine year old son Bobby, who suffers from rare brain disorder Lissencephaly.
Children with the condition live on average to 10 years old, and with Bobby set to turn 10 next year, his family are hoping to arrange an unforgettable holiday to Disney World in Florida.
Extortionate insurance costs mean the holiday is currently out of the question, costing around £16,500, and the family are hoping money raised through their own charity Bobby's Trust, can help fund the holiday.
The latest fundraising initiative - a Santa's grotto in their back garden - started out as a bit of fun for family friends, but after posting the idea on Facebook he was inundated with requests and decided to open to the public.
"This year we've found taking Bobby to a normal grotto like Bluewater isn't always easy," said Daniel. "It's not accessible, and the waiting time just doesn't suit his needs. I used to work with autistic children and children with aspergers, and it's not easy for them waiting in queues.
"We decided to turn the summer house in the back garden into a grotto, and we're going to open up our sensory rooms to other children too, so they can chill and keep calm.
"We were going to offer it to just friends but now we've got 50 kids and families booked in over three days.
"We didn't expect it to be so popular - we've had a lot of people ring, and we've also got parents in wheelchairs coming who can't normally take their children to see Santa as well."
Daniel explained the money would go to the Bobby Rhodes Trust charity, for Bobby's ongoing care, but that their ultimate aim was to raise money for a family holiday which they could treasure forever.
"It's a life-limiting condition," said Daniel. "So next year we're hoping to arrange a family holiday - it's about making memories.
"We wanted to got to Disney World but at the moment it's not feasible - the insurance is just ridiculous. The holiday would cost £16,500.
Although fully booked for Sunday December 15, Daniel is also taking bookings for Wednesday December 18 and Friday December 20.
For information or to donate, call Daniel on 07729 049456 or visit the Bobby's Trust Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bobbystrust2010
