Champions come in many different shapes and sizes and excel in many different arenas, from sports and the arts to human rights. But regardless of the arena they are in champions all have one thing in common, a desire to fight for something they truly believe in, and to keep fighting to overcome any obstacle they encounter.

In the world of stem cell research there are many champions. There are the researchers who toil year after year, searching for a deeper understanding of how stem cells work that could one day lead to something truly profound. There are the patient advocates who push hard for public support of research, trying to ensure that the most promising approaches get the money they need to succeed. And there are the ordinary people who support stem cell research because they know that one day they, or someone they love, could possibly benefit from a stem cell treatment.

Each one is a champion in his or her own right. Each plays an equally important role in helping move the field forward.

To celebrate those individuals we are launching a new campaign that celebrates the stem cell champions all around us, and the goals they are fighting for. You can be a part of that campaign, all you need to do is print out our champions form, write why you are a stem cell champion and then post your photo to Instagram with the tag #SCchamp. Your photo will then appear on our list of stem cell champions.

We have created a new page on our website where you can read more about the importance of being a stem cell champion, and to see the images of all the others who are part of the campaign.

Each picture will tell its own story, but we would also like to hear the background to your story, why you are involved and what motivates you. Those images, those stories are powerful tools in helping others understand why this work is so important, and why they too should join us and become champions.

Kevin McCormack