Acid attack model to mentor burns victims

cowell eschews vanity to back disfigurement charity in kensington

Simon Cowell has become the first patron of a charity set up by a former model who was badly disfigured in an acid attack.

At the official launch at Sony's headquarters in Kensington, Cowell joined the charity's three trustees - Mohammed Jawad, the reconstruction surgeon who performed pioneering surgery on Miss Piper at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Ros Ponder, media adviser and television producer, and commercial adviser Martin Dix.

The X Factor judge described Katie Piper as "brave" and "talented" as he backed her plan to set up a specialist burns rehabilitation centre offering medical treatment and emotional support.

Miss Piper was an aspiring TV presenter when she had sulphuric acid thrown in her face as she walked along a street in Golders Green in March 2008. She was left fighting for her life after obsessive martial arts fan Daniel Lynch raped her and then arranged for another man to throw the corrosive liquid after she tried to break off their relationship.

The acid burned through all four layers of skin on her face, some spilled down her throat and she was left blind in one eye. She has undergone more than 40 operations on her face and throat including groundbreaking surgery at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Miss Piper, 26, had five intensive three-week blocks of treatment at the Centre Ster in Lamalou, France. She credited the daily routine of treatments, including deep tissue massage, physiotherapy, skin-softening endomology machines, hydrotherapy, silicone and pressure garments, as a key part of her recovery.

"I hope by sharing experiences the Katie Piper Foundation can help other disfigured people to build in confidence, to stand tall and feel beautiful too."

katie piper

Miss Piper, who waived her right to anonymity to feature in a television documentary last year, said: "I want the clinic to be a place where people can learn to overcome the psychological barriers of living with disfigurement and concentrate on rebuilding their lives."

Cowell, who contacted her after watching the Channel 4 programme, said: "Katie is one of the most inspiring people I have met. She is brave, talented and determined and I think what she is doing with the Katie Piper Foundation is incredible."

Miss Piper said: "I hope by sharing experiences the Katie Piper Foundation can help other disfigured people to build in confidence, to stand tall and feel beautiful too."

Lynch and Stefan Sylvestre - who threw the acid - were sentenced to life in prison by a judge at Wood Green Crown Court who described the pair as the "face of pure evil".

14.07.10 22:48