Cruise to host 9/11 fundraiser
Tom Cruise’s latest effort is not for the big screen. It is for the New York police, firefighters and paramedics of September 11.
Cruise was to appear today at a private dinner in Manhattan to raise money for the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, a programme he co-founded in 2002. His wife, Katie Holmes, was also expected to attend.
The programme, 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 September 11 2001, terror attacks.
“Nearly six years later, many are still paying a price for their heroic service at the World Trade Centre. This is a profound injustice,” the 44-year-old actor said in a statement. “This project has demonstrated that recovery is not only possible, but an incontrovertible fact.”
The programme has treated 785 workers since its inception, said director Jim Woodworth. Each worker is given vitamins and nutritional counselling and participates in daily exercise and sauna sessions. The programme takes about 30 days to complete, he said.
Patrick Bahnken, president of the New York Fire Department’s union of emergency workers and paramedics, said there was some initial concern the programme would include proselytising and religious rhetoric. But the programme is secular and results have been positive, he 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 programme for people with and without health problems. Most experts believe there are thousands of people still sick years after ground zero exposure.
