The Calgary Fire Department is calling on other emergency service providers in the province to take part in a massive study aimed at preventing cancer and other diseases in future generations.

The Tomorrow Project is a large, long-term study that is looking into the causes of cancer, heart disease and other long-term health conditions.

“The Tomorrow Project collects information and samples before diseases occur,” said Alberta’s Tomorrow Project Scientific Director Dr. Paula Robson. “Researchers will be able to analyze these in the future to explore differences in people who go on to develop disease versus those who do not.  In the short term, we can support different kinds of studies.”

The Calgary Fire Department has teamed up with the study and is challenging other front-line workers to sign up and surpass CFD’s participation rate.

“Typically, a challenge like this is going to be well received so I’m expecting we’re going to hear a lot about this and I really hope that we can get the other outfits across the province involved. We want everyone from the EMS, the fire department, the police department involved in this,” said James Whitworth, Study Centre Coordinator.

More than 47,000 Albertans have taken part in the study so far and the firefighters are trying to push the enrollment number over the 50,000 mark.

“I strongly encourage other fire departments and emergency service providers across Alberta to show their support of this incredibly important research project,” said Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Brad Lorne. “Saving lives is what we do every day, and with an investment of just two hours, we can continue to serve our communities far beyond our lifetimes.”

The Tomorrow project is looking for Albertans, aged 35 to 69, who have never had cancer, to take part in the research study.

“The long-term goal is to create a cancer free future,” said Whitworth. “It’s really important that we can get as many people involved as possible, we’re looking for 50,000 individuals and we’re only 3,000 short of that so we want all Albertans to get involved.”

“I hope to never hear the words ‘you’ve got cancer’ and as a firefighter there’s an increased risk of cancers and if we can find a cure or at least find treatment methods that will help firefighters, I think this is a success,” said Lorne.

One in two Albertans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and one in four will die from the disease.

Firefighters, support staff and members of the public interested in joining the study are invited to the Tomorrow Project’s mobile study centre, in the Fire Training Academy Room 130, located at 5727 - 23 Ave. S.E, Calgary all day on Tuesday, October 14, 2014.

For information and to join the study, click HERE or call toll-free 1-877-919-9292.