The live remote broadcast will take place in the second floor auditorium of the Moffitt Research Center, 13131 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, and is a collaborative effort of Vital Options® TeleSupport® Cancer Network, Moffitt Cancer Center and The Group Room's Tampa affiliate 1250 WHNZ Business News Radio for Tampa Bay.

“The holiday season can be a difficult and lonely time for many cancer patients and their families. This special broadcast of The Group Room promises to be one of inspiration and hope,” said Selma R. Schimmel, Founder and CEO of Vital Options and Host of The Group Room.

"WHNZ is proud to partner with The Group Room and Moffitt for this broadcast," said Gene Lindsey, Operations Manager for the Clear Channel station. "The Group Room has been a valuable part of our Sunday schedule and has made a significant contribution to the lives of those touched by cancer in the Tampa area and everywhere else it is heard."

Joining Schimmel for the live remote will be Moffitt Cancer Center Director Dr. John C. Ruckdeschel, Professor of Oncology and Medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and Professor in the Department of Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida College of Public Health; Dr. Lodovico Balducci, Program Leader of Moffitt's Senior Adult Oncology Program and Professor of Medicine and Attending Physician at University of South Florida College of Medicine; and Oncology Social Worker Mary E. Turney, Manager of Moffitt's Psychosocial & Palliative Care Program.

The broadcast will also feature a special call-in interview with singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Chapman will also share her own experience of losing her husband four years ago to lymphoma, which inspired her to write and record her current CD release “Sand and Water.” In honor of the holidays, listeners of The Group Room will be the first to hear Beth’s version of the song “There’s Still My Joy” written by Beth Nielsen Chapman, Melissa Manchester and Matt Rollings.

Immediately following the broadcast, Borders Books will host a book signing at Moffitt Cancer Center for Schimmel's "Cancer Talk: Voices of Hope and Endurance from The Group Room--the World's Largest Cancer Support Group," which was published by Broadway Books, a division of Random House.

Individuals interested in attending the live audience discussion should call Vital Options at 1-800-477-7666 or 1-888-MOFFITT for more information.

All phone calls to The Group Room are screened by a licensed oncology social worker and topics about all aspects of cancer will be accepted. Callers can enter discussions by dialing 1-800-GRP-ROOM (1-800-477-7666).

During the week, individuals can reach Vital Options at 1-818-508-5657 for support or to receive more information about cancer resources or stations carrying the broadcast.

In addition to Tampa, the program airs live in selected cities throughout the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Memphis and St. Louis and reaches about 400,000 listeners a week. It is also simulcast worldwide via the Internet (www.vitaloptions.org).

Vital Options is a Los Angeles-based national non-profit cancer communications, support and advocacy organization that produces The Group Room in association with Premiere Radio Networks. Vital Options was the first organization to address issues related to young adults with cancer before expanding to include issues and information related to everyone touched by cancer.

The Group Room is supported through educational grants from Founding Sponsor Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Corporate Sponsors Ortho Biotech Inc., Pharmacia Oncology and Genentech BioOncology Inc.