Tomkat Gets Charitable for 9/11 Rescue Workers

Tom founded the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project in 2002 as a way to help pay 9/11 rescue workers with health issues and, of course, push Scientology.

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.

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.

Although it sounded a little shady initially, Patrick Bahnken, the president of the New York Fire Department’s union of emergency workers and paramedics, said religious rhetoric is not part of the care workers receive while getting treated.

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

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