For Dolly Torkilsden and her brothers and sisters, Loros provided a sanctuary for the whole family while their mother was dying.

Halcyone Iona Maries was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in April 2003, and her children were devastated to be told it was unlikely she would survive the summer.

As only one of the six siblings lived in Leicester, they were worried about how they would care for their 74-year-old mum, who lived in the Saffron Lane area.

Daughter Dolly, from London, says Leicester's Loros hospice meant little to her at the time, but that changed as soon as Halcyone – who was known by her middle name Iona – was referred to one of the charity's consultants.

She said: "Initially we cared for mum at her home with support from clinical nurse specialists from Loros.

"She was also referred to see a consultant and immediately we all felt in safe hands and reassured. Two weeks before her death it became clear that we could no longer provide the care and expertise that she clearly needed and she was admitted to the hospice. For us, this is where Loros came into its own. Nothing was too much trouble."

Dolly wanted to share her experiences of the hospice in support of our Leicester Mercury Loros Appeal, which aims to raise the remaining £450,000 needed towards a £2m extension providing 11 single-bed rooms.

During her stay, Iona was in a single room, giving her six children and two step children the chance to say their final goodbyes in private.

It was the first time the family – Dolly, Yvette, Gerald, Anne, Kathy and Jimmy, who sadly died in November – were all together in 48 years.

Dolly said it was "palliative care at its very best".

She said: "We were provided with accommodation in Loros' family suite and collectively we bed-hopped throughout the following days and nights to ensure that at least one of us was always near mum.

"The nursing staff tended my mum in a way that she had never been looked after in her life before. We are certain that this is why she lingered on so long at the hospice – because it was too good to leave and she knew we were all there together.

"She was turned regularly, bathed and clothed and she smelt divine all of the time. Her nails were painted and her hair combed – even in death she looked like a beautiful princess."

Iona, a great-grandmother who "lived life to the full", died peacefully under a willow tree in the hospice grounds on a hot day in July 2003, surrounded by her friends and family.

The Mercury appeal has so far raised more than £108,000.

Dolly said: "Loros will always be close to my heart and when I heard about the appeal I felt I needed to share my family's experience with readers and on behalf of my siblings and step-sisters Wendy and Diane.

"I want to say 'thank you Loros, keep up the good work'."