Organizers of a local effort to support a major cancer prevention study say they are at 42 percent of their goal of having area residents sign up.

PowerSouth has signed on has a corporate partner with the American Cancer Society for Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS3).

So far, 105 are residents have signed up, but organizers need 145 more enrollees before Nov. 13.

Those who participate will complete a comprehensive questionnaire about their health between now and Nov. 13-14. On those two days, participants will undergo brief screenings, including blood samples, at PowerSouth. Every two years or the next 20 to 30 years, participants will be asked to complete a new survey. If a participant is diagnosed with cancer, the ACS will pull that participant’s blood sample and begin to look for clues. The study is designed to help researchers understand the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that cause or prevent cancer.

Anyone who is between the ages of 30 and 65 who has not been diagnosed with cancer, is eligible to participate.

Christi Scruggs, who is helping coordinate the effort at PowerSouth, said it is very important that people do the questionnaire part of the process before the screenings on Nov. 13 and 14. The ACS will schedule technicians to draw blood samples based on the number of have finished the questionnaires. Not having enough will significantly slow that process.

To enroll, go to www.cps3covington.org.