Sally Mathieson at the launch of Salisbury Spinal Injuries Trust at Smith & Williamson. DB2134P11

By Chris Hooper

A SALISBURY woman's battle back from severe spinal injury has inspired the creation of a brand new charity trust.

Sally Mathieson, a former employee of Salisbury-based financial consultants Smith and Williamson, sustained serious injuries to her Cervical cord last year when she fell from a hammock in her garden.

However, the high standard of care she was given by staff at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre at Salisbury District Hospital has inspired her to create the Salisbury Spinal Injuries Trust (SSIT).

She said: "In a split second I went from being an active, happily married mother-of-three, to being a tetraplegic. But I was given such first class treatment at Salisbury District Hospital and during my stay I was able to reflect upon how I could help the Spinal Centre to improve its services."

This was the thought behind the formation of the SSIT, which was officially launched at a ceremony held last week at Smith and Williamson's Chipper Lane offices and which was attended by Sir Hayden Phillips, Robert Key MP, Mayor Sheila Warrander and a number of other dignitaries.

Smith and Williamson director and SSIT trustee, Jeremy Major, said: "Sally was employed with us for more than 13 years and the help she received after her accident from everyone at the Spinal Unit and in her outpatient care has really inspired us to do something.

"The aims of the trust are twofold: We want to provide financial help to the Spinal Unit at Salisbury District Hospital but we also want to provide financial help to people like Sally who have suffered life-changing injuries that they could never have prepared themselves for."

The SSIT aims to raise more than £60,000 this year and their fundraising efforts begin on May 5 and 6, when a team from Smith and Williamson aims to complete the famous Three Peaks Challenge.