A WEST Buckland woman is taking a 15,000 feet leap of faith in memory of her grandfather over the coronation weekend.

Mollie James will be skydiving over Dunkeswell Aerodrome on Sunday (May 7) which was her grandfather Terry James’s birthday.

She is hoping to raise £1,000 for The Alzheimer's Society, which is seeking a cure for the disease which took her grandfather.

Mollie said: “I want to be up in the sky, as near as I can get to my grandad on his birthday.

“I know he will give me the strength to conquer my fear of heights, and I know that would make him proud.

“My grandad Terry is not remembered or defined by his Alzheimer’s.

“He is remembered for being a rock to his family, a loving husband, a wonderful father, and a devoted grandad and great-grandad. 

“I remember him for always being outside tinkering with something in the garage when we pulled up to his house.

“It took him hours to park the car, as he searched for that perfect dent-proof parking spot.

“He always, always had his camcorder at the ready, quick to capture anything that might be a precious memory.

“He was just so proud of his family and wanted to preserve every moment and treasure the memories.

“He did everything, anything for his family. He was safety and strength.

“I hold his memory so deeply in my heart that I feel him with every step I take.

“Even today, in my current job role, I see grandad in every one of my clients and I want them to know all the love, respect, and dignity that he deserved.”

Mollie, who is self-employed in community care, said her sky jump was aimed not just at raising money, but also to raise awareness of the charity and the disease.

She said dementia was a cruel and tragic disease which could affect anybody and every penny helped move the charity closer to finding cures and medicines, and helping to care for those with Alzheimer’s, as well as offering support to loved ones affected by it.