Florida Support Groups

Support Groups provide a forum to share feelings, concerns, information, and as well as a place to offer peer support and encouragement. Solicitations or research projects are not conducted at support group meetings.

Support groups often feature speakers specializing in scleroderma or related topics. To find out information about upcoming speakers or meeting topics, please contact the support group leader or chapter office.

This schedule is subject to change. Before attending a group for the first time, please call to verify date and time. Groups are free of charge and open to everyone.

Avon Park

We will have a guest speaker for our December meeting - Wednesday, Dec. 2, 10—11:00 am.  Caroline Adams from Actelion Pharmaceuticals will be talking about pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Avon Park Support Group
Location: Highlands Regional Medical Center classroom, 3600 S. Highlands Ave., Sebring, Fla., 863-385-6101. Go to Administration for directions to the classroom. Get map and directions.
For more information, please contact Support Group Leader: Sue Severino, 863-452-2968, Susan.A.Severino@aphis.usda.gov

Daytona Beach

Halifax Support Group
Location: Coronado United Methodist Church, 201 Peninsula Avenue, Rm. 109, Education Building. New Smyrna Beach, Fl, Beachside.See map and directions.
Remaining 2009 Meeting Schedule: December 13, 2009 at 2 p.m.
Support Group Leaders: Linda Jackson, 386-734-7729, LindaBlessed1947@yahoo.com or Ruth Harding, 386-427-3980, is Srsalem@Ucnsb.net

Lady Lake

1–3 p.m. first Wednesday of each month. Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Lady Lake Scleroderma Support Group
The Villages Regional Hospital East Campus, 1800 Doctor's Drive, 2nd floor, room l, Lady Lake, Fla.
Support Group Leaders: Jean Clark, 352-753-9500 or Martha Dorsey, 352-430-0095, chumard2@embarqmail.com

Orlando

Orlando Area Support Group
Location: Orlando Fashion Square Mall, Community Room, 3201 E Colonial Drive, Orlando, Fla. Room is across from parking garage and beside Sears. Map.
Misc: We offer snacks and give away door prizes!
Support Group Leader: Amy Zaste, 407-295-9409, amdecr@aol.com

Sarasota

9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon the 3rd Saturday of every other month (Sept 09, Nov 09)
Sarasota Area Support Group
Waldemere Medical Plaza, 1921 Waldemere St. Sarasota, Florida, 2nd Floor, Mimosa Room. Waldemere Medical Plaza is located directly across from Sarasota Memorial Hospital on Waldemere Street.
Support Group Leader: Cindy Grantham, 941-539-4479,manateecg@verizon.net

Tampa

Tampa Support Group
Shriner's Hospitals for Children, 12501 Pine Drive, Tampa, Fla., in the Board Room (close to the University of South Florida). Phone number: 813-972-2250. See Yahoo.com directions. Please come hungry as lunch will be provided. If you would like to bring a dish to our meeting, please e-mail me what you would like to bring. We normally have anywhere from 3–20 people at our meetings. Also, if you are lost you can call my cell phone at 813-299-2988. Please call between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. I will try to call you back within 72 hours.
Support Group Leader: Jo Ann Bokenkamp, 813-684-8949, tbokenkamp@yahoo.com