Virginia Grants $2M Annually for Firefighter Cancer Screens

After 46 years of running into burning buildings to save lives, Steve Weissman learned he had cancer at a routine doctor's appointment a decade ago.

Firefighters face cancer at rates 9% higher than the general population, according to the CDC. The constant exposure to smoke, chemicals, and toxic materials makes cancer a leading cause of death in the profession.

Now Virginia is doing something about it. Governor Abigail Spanberger added a $2 million annual grant program to the state budget that helps fire departments provide early cancer screenings to their teams.

The program will cover $350 per eligible screening for career firefighters. That might not sound like much, but early detection saves lives and it shows firefighters the state has their back.

For Weissman, the news hit home. "It means everything," he said, reflecting on his own journey through diagnosis and treatment while still trying to support his family.

His battle led him to found the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, turning his painful experience into a resource for others facing the same fight. He was searching for help during his darkest days and couldn't find it, so he built it himself.

Why This Inspires

Weissman's story shows how personal pain can fuel powerful change. He spent nearly five decades protecting his community, and when cancer struck, he kept serving by creating support for fellow firefighters.

Now the state is stepping up too. This funding means firefighters won't have to choose between early screenings and their family budget. It means catching cancers before they become terminal. It means the people who run toward danger get the protection they deserve.

The program recognizes a simple truth: the men and women who save us shouldn't have to sacrifice their health to do it. These screenings could catch cancers years earlier, giving firefighters the fighting chance Weissman wishes he'd had sooner.

Virginia just told every firefighter in the state that their service matters and their health matters too.