THE late, inspirational, Alice Pyne was insistent that her legacy charity would be called Escapes – and that is exactly what it does by providing a retreat for seriously ill children and their families.

Alice's Escapes has now extended its important work at Bardsea Leisure Park, in Ulverston, by also offering bereavement breaks for families who have lost a child.

Pride of Britain courage winner, Alice, died aged 17 in January 2013 after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma for five years.

The Ulverston campaigner passed away less than a fortnight before her first caravan – Mabel's Place – arrived at the park.

The purple army of Team Alice raised the money with gruelling challenges at home and abroad – from the Keswick to Barrow walk, to Kilimanjaro, and their support with events and donations from the local community.

On Saturday the charity's open day thanked all the fundraisers and public supporters and gave people the chance to look around the holiday caravans and see how the donations bring joy to families facing the most difficult and heartbreaking times.

Folk met the team and looked around Mabel's Palace, Molly's Palace, Lottie's Lodge, which is the charity's base, and the new addition – Lily's Lodge, the peaceful place now being used by families who have lost their little angels.

Vicky Pyne, Alice and 18-year-old Milly's mum, said: "The open day has been a phenomenal success. It's a bit of giving back to the community to show them what we do and how their fundraising helps us."

Lily's Lodge was bought by TV presenter Emma Forbes, the charity's patron, and her husband Graham Clempson. The decking and seating areas for the lodge were donated by a friend of Alice's and the Pynes, and a bereaved family who used the facility.

Bereaved families started to used Lily's Lodge from last summer. It was set up to support families and to try and stop isolation.

Mrs Pyne said: "We want people to know that we understand, we can't fix it, but there is a depth of understanding.

"You can't imagine how horrific it is (to lose a child), until you are there.

"There is a lot of support when you have a child with cancer, or a long term illness or disability, but not once they have gone."

"Lily's Lodge is quite unique."

Adam and Leone Edwards attended the open day to support the charity as they benefited from a break at Lily's Lodge with their family.

The Edwards, of Kendal, lost their daughter Alice when she was two days old. Alice had a genetic condition called fatty acid oxidation disorder.

The couple, who have three other children, were told about Alice's Escapes by a friend.

Mr Edwards, 44, said: "It's such a fantastic idea to have something like this at Alice's Escapes. It's such a difficult thing to go through and no one seems to have any idea of how to deal with it. There is no right or wrong way to deal with it.

"At Alice's Escapes you could be a million miles away in this lovely place and Vicky is here and she has that understanding.

"Coming here brings the sense of family back to your family. We came here with the children and they went swimming, we went on walks, went to the zoo. It was a fantastic time to be back together as a family and do something in honour of Alice, both Alices.

"It's a lovely thing to have a break and be a family again. Bereavement is sadness, this is all about happiness and peacefulness.

"You are not alone, you have a connection with other families."

Mrs Edwards, 37, said: "It's a little oasis at Alice's Escapes. It was so peaceful and quiet, it was relief.

"They even stock the fridge up so people don't have to worry about food and local businesses give trips. It's nice not to worry, supplies and trips out."