It is 26 years since the death of Elvis Presley, one of the most recognisable icons of 20th Century popular culture.

For Donna Presley Early, his first cousin, the memories of that day remain as strong as ever.

Donna, 53, is the daughter of Elvis's aunt Nash, who cared for the young Elvis when he was growing up and was his friend and adviser until his death.

In 1970 her family moved into Elvis's Memphis ranch, Graceland. Donna spent her teenage years on the estate and remained close to him until his death on August 16, 1977.

She said: "I have very vivid memories of that day when my mother called and told me that Elvis . . . "

She tails off, as if struggling to come to terms with a tragedy that had happened yesterday.

"She called and she said: 'Pray for Elvis. Pray for Elvis. There's something wrong' and she was just hysterical.

"I kept saying: 'What?' and she said: 'Just pray for Elvis'. I hung up the phone and gathered my two small boys into the living room and I began to pray.

"About 20 minutes later, she called and said: 'It's too late baby, he's gone.'

"I got a babysitter for my children and went to Graceland.

"Uncle Vernon was sitting by my grandmother's door.

"You could see with every breath that he took his heart was breaking. I just knelt down and hugged him and we cried. It certainly left a huge hole in our hearts for Elvis to be gone.

"The day of the funeral there were masses of people lining the ride from Elvis's home to the mausoleum where he was first buried.

"People had signs saying: 'You're gone but you'll never be forgotten', and 'We love you' and 'Thank you for what you've done for me'.

"I go all over the world trying to do the best I can to continue the legacy Elvis left behind."

Donna and her husband, Buddy, a retired law enforcement officer and private investigator, are in town to visit lifelong Elvis fan, Lee Dawson.

Lee, of Queens Park Road, Brighton, first contacted Donna over the internet two years ago and the pair have struck up an extraordinary friendship.

Lee introduced Donna to the work of the Chestnut Tree House, near Angmering, and Donna has dedicated her visit to raising funds and publicity for the children's hospice, which needs £1.5million a year to operate.

Her trip will culminate this evening in a celebration of Elvis's life at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel, with proceeds going to the hospice.

She said: "Every memory I have involving Elvis is very precious. He was a very warm and loving man, a very giving man.

"He lived a great amount of life in a short period of time. He was 42 years old when he passed away and he was in the public eye for 22 of those years.

"Now, 26 years after his death, he's still being remembered with love by people all over the world and from all walks of life."

Donna was shown around the facilities of the £5 million hospice on Thursday and was moved to tears as she viewed the hospice's bereavement suite, a family-friendly area where grieving relatives can pay their last respects.

She said: "I have a three-year-old granddaughter and I can't imagine what these families and their children are going through.

"To see a beautiful home like this - it's not like a hospital - I think is amazing and I'm thrilled to be a part of raising money for it.

"The people here are wonderful. £1.5million is a lot of money but when you consider what is happening here it's nothing and it should be easily raised each year.

"Elvis would have been the first person to give that £1.5million, I have no doubt. He would definitely want to give as much as he could."

It is estimated Elvis has sold more than one billion albums worldwide, more than anyone else in the history of the record business.

As Brighton celebrates his life, millions of his fans from all over the world will congregate at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, to remember their hero.