A WOMAN who fractured her back in a skiing accident has produced a second cookbook to raise money for a charity that helped her rehabilitation.

Vanessa Owen, of Chilfrome, near Dorchester, has launched Cook to INSPIRE...Again!

The INSPIRE Foundation helped Vanessa with her rehabilitation after her spinal cord injury in the French Alps. The original cookbook she created, Cook to INSPIRE, contains recipes from Dame Darcey Bussell, Lord Attenborough, Marco Pierre White, Sting and the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Diana.

Although Vanessa's skiing accident happened in December 1992 it has been a long road to recovery.

She was evacuated from France to a spinal injury unit in Salisbury and her rehabilitation took five months.

In this time Vanessa was introduced to then fledgling charity the INSPIRE (Integrated Spinal Rehabilitation Foundation) under its executive director the late Jack Gardner. INSPIRE raises money to run its own research programme addressing independence and quality of life after spinal cord injury.

Vanessa claims she was one of the ‘lucky ones’ as she made a remarkable recovery and while she is not without permanent complications which she manages with consummate ease, she is now able to walk unaided. She has also become a patron of INSPIRE.

During her long spell in hospital she developed the idea of Cook to INSPIRE, putting together recipes from her many friends and contacts in the culinary world.

It was such a successful book that Vanessa decided to develop a second cookbook, a new collection of recipes in an easy to follow format beautifully illustrated by Dorset artist Helen Lloyd-Elliott. Earlier this year, she decided to give further support to the INSPIRE Foundation now an altogether much bigger charity spending £1.2 million on its current research programme throughout the UK.

A charity spokesman said: "The INSPIRE Foundation applauds Nessie’s stoic efforts in maintaining focused support to the charity and was delighted when she agreed to become a patron in 2016."

There will be a significant book launch and signing at INSPIRE’s Autumn Supper & Wine Tasting on Thursday, November 14 at Salisbury Guildhall at 7pm. Tickets cost £37.50 per person and include a three course supper by Emma Harrison Catering with all wines provided by Charles Steevenson of Steevenson Wines of Tavistock. Tickets to this are available by emailing events@inspire-foundation.org.uk’ or by calling 01722 336262 Extension 2465.

*To order Cook to INSPIRE...Again! for £7.50 plus £1.50 postage and packaging, call 01722 336262 Extension 2465.