It came out of the real-life experiences of 12 people (who didn’t know each other) who joined forces to support a mutual friend when she reached a crisis during her battle with terminal cancer.  The STC manual covers not only how to organize a group but also how to keep it going.  By working as a tight-knit team and sharing the responsibilities, they can maintain their efforts over long periods of time (years). The friendships that evolve during the experience are a special benefit.