Cruise to raise funds for rescue workers

Tom Cruise

LOS ANGELES - Tom Cruise's latest effort isn't for the big screen. It's for the New York police, firefighters and paramedics of Sept. 11. Cruise was to appear Thursday at a private dinner in Manhattan to raise money for the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, a program he co-founded in 2002. His wife, Katie Holmes, was also expected to attend.

The program, based on principles developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, offers free treatment to emergency workers who suffer breathing difficulties and other health problems stemming from exposure to toxins at ground zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"Nearly six years later, many are still paying a price for their heroic service at the World Trade Center. This is a profound injustice," the 44-year-old actor said in a statement to The Associated Press. "This project has demonstrated that recovery is not only possible, but an incontrovertible fact."

The program has treated 785 workers since its inception, said director Jim Woodworth. Each worker is given vitamins and nutritional counseling and participates in daily exercise and sauna sessions. The program takes about 30 days to complete, he said.

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Tom," Woodworth said.

Patrick Bahnken, president of the New York Fire Department's union of emergency workers and paramedics, said there was some initial concern the program would include proselytizing and religious rhetoric. But the program is secular and results have been positive, he said.

"The majority of our members have reported an improvement in their quality of life," Bahnken said.

New York City officials say some 400,000 people were exposed to ground zero dust and 71,000 have enrolled in a long-term health monitoring program for people with and without health problems. Most experts believe there are thousands of people still sick years after ground zero exposure.