This week saw the sad news that Christopher Reeve had passed away. Reeve is probably still best known for his role in the Superman films, but in his later years after breaking his neck in a riding accident in 1995, and being paralysed from the neck down, was a tireless campaigner for spinal injury sufferers, and in particular the role that stem cell research (and particularly embryonic stem cell research) could potentially play in bringing hope and medical breaththroughs to victims of all manner of conditions.

His example was every bit as important as his campaigning, because he refused to believe that he would not walk again, and in combining desire with relentless action he inspired millions and achieved more progress against combatting his own condition then most Doctors had previously deemed possible. By 2002, after years of therapy, he was able to move his index finger, wrist and thumb and there seemed a very real possibility that at some stage he would walk again. Sadly it wasn't to be though. He died on Sunday 10th October after a heart attack following developing a serious blood infection from a bedsore. But nevertheless his life was in every sense a triumph. He was a burning example that the hand that nature deals us (however bad), is ours alone to play, and that living a good life is ultimately as much about the striving (which we alone control) as it is about the achievement of outcomes which may be out of our hands to deliver. He could have so easily, and lets face it who could blame him, have fallen into despair after the accident that left him paralysed. But instead he chose to keep fighting and all of us have benefited from his guts and determination.

The cause that was closest to Reeves heart during the last 9 years of his life was Stem Cell Research. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can self-renew indefinitely and also differentiate into more mature cells with specialized functions. What this means is they are the biological equivalent of potters clay. You can take stem cells and form them into a teapot or a plate or vase depending on what aim you are trying to achieve. This makes them tremendously exciting when it comes to medical research, because theoretically it should be possible to develop tissue-replacement therapies that will restore lost functions in damaged organs. In Reeve's case he was looking to stem cells to repair spinal damage.