by Carol Vorderman
Welcome to the website. I must say it feels like only yesterday that I had the pleasure of welcoming guests to the very first Pride of Britain Awards. This is our tenth wonderful year, a decade of heart-warming, uplifting stories of people who have contributed so much to this country.
And, of course, the rich and famous who came to honour them.
I remember looking down from the stage on that first Pride of Britain at a youthful Tony Blair, an ageless Paul McCartney, a vibrant bunch of Spice Girls and a rising young footballer called Michael Owen.
How times change! Yet here I am again launching our tenth annual search for the people who put the Great in Great Britain for this year's very special Awards. Our tenth anniversary gala in September..
The magic of Pride of Britain grows stronger by the year.
Prince Charles says it's "unique" while Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls it "a highlight of the national calendar".
I'm not surprised it has become the biggest event of its kind in the UK with around 8million viewers joining us on the ITV1 network - more than watched the Brits or Baftas.
To me, it is the only awards show on TV that really matters. It's the most uplifting night of the year when we can all celebrate our country at its best.
No winners are more deserving. Ulike most awards shows these days, they're not celebrities, but REAL stars - unsung heroes of all ages, whose inspiring stories take your breath away.
Like our award presenters, I am always in awe of our winners. And I have no doubt viewers feel the same.
Take last year's Pride of Britain. Who can forget the story of air stewardess Carol Miller who delivered and saved the life of a baby in a passenger plane 30,000ft above the ground?
Or brave six-year-old meningitis victim Lydia Cross being reunited with her dad who had been working in Iraq to pay for her rehabilitation?
Or teenager Megan Blunt who accepted her award from a clearly overwhelmed JK Rowling for writing a self-help book for children like herself who had to battle cancer?
And Sgt Michelle Cunningham, the army bomb disposal officer whose bravery was so impressive Ewan McGregor flew to Basra especially to honour her?
For me, it's those kind of extraordinary moments which make Pride of Britain so special. And it's going to be even more so on Tuesday, September, 30 as we celebrate our 10th anniversary with a glittering galain London.It will be screened in a two-hours of prime time on ITV1 the followingnight, Wednesday, October 1st - Pride of Britain Day.
The event is sponsored by The Co-operative, the UK's largest mutual retailer, and actively supported by the ITV network, ITV regions and nations, GMTV, Daily Mirror, the Prince's Trust, the Post Office annd Google UK.
HRH Prince Charles and the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will join more than 100 of the nation's most famous people - including sports and showbusiness and political figures - in honouring the Pride of Britain.
But we need your help in finding them.
I know there are many, many heroes and heroines all over the country whose achievements deserve wider recognition - from courageous children and adults to tireless care workers, campaigners and charity fundraisers.
The Co-operative, is launching a new award category -The Co-operative Local Champion - for people who have improved their local area while ITV regional news shows will be helping us search for the country's most inspiring Teacher of The Year - someone whose innovative methods make learning fun for our kids.
Last year's winner Pamela Redican had overcome a difficult childhood and a battle with alcoholism to open a school for troubled youngsters.
GMTV will be inviting viewers to vote for the winner of the Emergency Services Award which goes to members of the police, fire, ambulance or mountain or sea rescues who have put their own lives at risk to help others.
The modesty of such heroes is always humbling.
I recall thinking exactly that when I met last year's winner, fireman Tam Brown, who nearly lost his job after breaching safety rules to rescue a drowning woman in Perth.
So do you know an amazing fundraiser, perhaps? Someone who has either raised a colossal amount for a good cause or, like last year's winner, little Chloe Gambrill, shown extraordinary dedication. Despite being weak from leukaemia, she completed a fun run to raise £100 for a cancer charity. We need your help in finding this year's winners - and making your nomination has never been easier.
You can nominate here online today - just click on Nominate Now. Or you can pick up a form, fill it in and post it in the Pride of Britain boxes at any of 4,000 Co-operative food store or travel, bank or pharmacy branch across the UK
Nominations close on Friday, August 1st, 2008, so please do it today. You will be notified that your nomination has been received within two weeks of submitting it.
I can assure you that every nomination is considered extremely seriously by our research team. They are also scouring the country, as well as ploughing through regional and national media stories from the past year, to find the most remarkable people in the land whose achievements we want to celebrate.
Winners will be selected from a shortlist by a panel of distinguished judges.For more details on the nomination process, please click on Q and A in About Us and on Judges.
I know Pride of Britain 2008 will be another memorable night. But we need your help to make it so.