Vital Options was founded in 1983 as the first advocacy organization for young adults with cancer, before expanding into an international cancer communications organization with the launch of The Group Room® cancer talk radio show in 1996. Vital Options launched National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week in 2003 in recognition of its 20th anniversary, in collaboration with the young adult cancer advocacy movement.

70,000 young adults are diagnosed each year, but unfortunately, the advances made in other age groups have not improved in the last 30 years for young adults. Through Surviving Idol, Vital Options seeks to inspire and nurture the creative process that is healing and expressive, and can deliver a message on behalf of young adult cancer awareness.

Vital Options CEO and founder, Selma Schimmel, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1983 while in her 20s. “While the young adult cancer advocacy movement has grown tremendously, the sad truth is that young adults are still delayed in their diagnosis and all too often hear the same words that I did 27 years ago – ‘you’re too young for cancer’ and this just infuriates me. My greatest hope is that through the Surviving Idol, creative expression will be our best weapon to raise young adult cancer awareness to a new level of understanding, and also provide new avenues of hope and opportunity for these talented young adult cancer survivors – they are, after all, our future.”

Surviving Idol is being produced in association with Emmy Award-winning producer Scott Sternberg and Scott Sternberg Productions. Future plans include a concert featuring the winners of Surviving Idol. Joining as a Surviving Idol partner organization is I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation (i[2]y), one of the nation's leading grassroots advocates for young adults affected by cancer at i2y.com.

The competition is accepting submissions at www.survivingidol.com. Submissions will be featured on the Surviving Idol website and the new The Group Room show, which is soon returning in an Internet TV format. Judging will take place in each category. Judges will represent the entertainment and young adult cancer advocacy community. Winners will be selected by popular public voting.

Vital Options International is a not-for-profit 510(c)(3) headquartered in Southern California, with a European division based in France at the American Hospital of Paris and production partners at Radio Marsden, Royal Marsden Hospital, London. Vital Options is noted for its pioneering and innovative approaches in using media to advocate and communicate about cancer. The organization is about to launch the Vital Options Health Network at www.vohealthnetwork.org.