Do you know a ‘Health Hero’? We would like to hear from you

They stand beside the most vulnerable in our society – travelling the tough, often long, journeys with those struck by illness, disease and accidents.

They are our “Health Heroes”.

Often unpaid, always in the background, these heroes save the State a fortune, financially – by offering care, expertise and logistics. And, less easily quantified but also of high value, they provide kindness and comfort to those under their care.

Does this ring any bells?

Why I love to . . . walk in the great outdoors

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Lena Dunham says she had hysterectomy after endometriosis

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‘My advanced child’ syndrome, and other parenting pitfalls

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Am I wasting my boyfriend’s time by staying with him?

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Is there someone you would like to nominate as one of our “Health Heroes”.

Each Tuesday, in the Health+Family Supplement of The Irish Times and online at irishtimes.com/health, we will honour one of the people we consider deserving of the hero tag.

It could be the CEO of a national organisation or someone taking care of a loved one in their home.

They could be working in a large Irish hospital or a backgarden shed.

If you would like to nominate someone, just send us a brief note (up to 100 words) on why.

Thank you.

Our Health Heroes
1 - Martin Nevin: Even unwashed and medicated up to my eyes, Martin makes me feel beautiful
2 - Maureen Durcan: That so many live on the poverty line in Ireland is incredibly sad
3 - John Burke: Managing mental health should not be like climbing a mountain
4 - Derek Devoy: The Kilkenny taxi man whose drive saves lives
5 - Sarah Fitzgibbon: Society has to stop treating the marginalised and disabled as charity cases
6 - Kathleen King: I wanted to make sure no one else would have to wait nine years for a diagnosis
7 - Caoimhe Bennett: The schoolgirl raising understanding about young carers
8 - Ann Norton: Our hospitals are a disgrace. We are letting down our doctors, nurses and whole society
9 - Una McNicholas: My proudest achievement is being able to help care for my sister
10 - Catherine Cox: Family carers are a hidden army of exceptional people fulfilling a role they did not ask for
11 - Prof Rose Anne Kenny: Good friendships make for a healthy life as much as regular exercise and healthy diet
12 - Dr Robert O'Connor: Within my lifetime we could eradicate cervical cancer with the HPV vaccine and screening
13 - Claire Cahill and Michelle Long: Scoliosis campaigners battling to reduce waiting times for children