As she faced a 3,000ft descent from the skies to face her fears, James Paget University Hospital housekeeper Kim Cox sang 'I Believe I Can Fly'.

Not one for heights, Ms Cox braved a parachute jump at Beccles Airfield to raise £1,000 for a charity close to her heart.

Having worked on the wards at James Paget University Hospital for over a decade Ms Cox, from Great Yarmouth, has seen firsthand the toll Alzheimer's disease and dementia can have on people and the people they love.

It is something which has even hit her own family, with Ms Cox recently losing her partner's father to the condition and her ex-brother-in-law being diagnosed at the age of 59.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Kim Cox before her skydive for Alzheimer's Society. Picture - Kim CoxKim Cox before her skydive for Alzheimer's Society. Picture - Kim Cox (Image: Kim Cox)

"The destruction Alzheimer's can cause is just appalling," she said.

"So many people are affected by it and it never gets easier to see."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Kim Cox the moment she leapt from a plane over Beccles. Picture - UK ParachutingKim Cox the moment she leapt from a plane over Beccles. Picture - UK Parachuting (Image: UK Parachuting)There are currently estimated to be 900,000 people in the UK with dementia. Many are undiagnosed and facing the realities of their condition alone

After witnessing the catastrophic consequences of the disease closer to home, Ms Cox wanted to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society, which aims to address the biggest challenges facing people living with dementia.

On Saturday, Ms Cox's fundraising efforts saw her take to the skies of Beccles as she performed a tandem skydive with UK Parachuting.

She said: "It was 15 minutes from the training to the going up in the plane. And about 3 minutes to get down to the ground again.

"As we went up, I kept singing 'I Believe I Can Fly' to calm me down. I was nervous.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Hospital housekeeper Kim Cox 3,000 feet above Beccles. Picture - UK ParachutingHospital housekeeper Kim Cox 3,000 feet above Beccles. Picture - UK Parachuting (Image: UK Parachuting)"But when we jumped out, it was amazing.

"I keep watching the video - I cannot believe I have done it. But now that I have, I just want to get back up there."

Ms Cox has beaten her £1,000 target, raising £1,210 so far.

For more information, search 'Kim Cox - Alzheimer's Society' on JustGiving.com