Recycle Cell Phones to Help Families Battling Cancer
(Photo credit: ibeginz)
Kansas City’s own wellness super-guru and founder of Your Wellness Connection (YWC), Dr. Michelle Robin has added $500 in services to the Cells for Cells March giveaway.
That means that our first Extreme Medical Bill Makeover winner will receive $500 cash and $500 in YWC services (either on-site in Shawnee, Kansas or consulting via telephone).
Thank you, Dr. Robin for inspiring us to be WELL!
Black & Veatch Partners with Cells for Cells to Help Families Battling Cancer
Black & Veatch joins Cells for Cells in the 2009 One Million Cells Campaign to recycle 1 million cell phones and raise $1 million dollars for families battling cancer.
Recycling cell phones for three years, and a Cells for Cells partner since early 2008, Black & Veatch has extended their local participation to professionals in over 40 of their US offices.
“Most people still have three or four old cell phones in their home,” says Jason Clements, co-founder of Cells for Cells. “When Black & Veatch professionals bring in their old cell phones from home, they make a big difference very quickly.”
And that falls in line with Black & Veatch’s mission of Building a World of Difference.
That difference just might be felt close to home, as part of the One Million Cells Campaign is to search for inspirational stories of families that have battled cancer and reward them with what Jason Clements calls “an Extreme Medical Bill Makeover-style” giveaway.
Participation in the Medical Bill Makeover giveaway is open to any U.S. resident who is battling or has battled cancer. The details are available at the www.cellsforcells.com and www.cellsforcells.blogspot.com.
Clements remembers glancing at his grandfather’s medical bills back in 2005. “Just one dose of one of my grandpa’s medicines was almost $1,000!”
“And, I know $500 is not going to change the world or change anyone’s lives in a significant way right now. But it is THE start of how and, more importantly, WHY we recycle.”
For the month of March, the giveaway is $500 to apply to medical and related expenses. Cells for Cells defines related expenses as include pharmacy bills, co-pays, travel or gas for the car, or even flowers for your loved one.
Shawnee, Kansas-based Cells for Cells recycles cell phones to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help families battling cancer.
For information contact Jason Clements jason(dot)cellsforcells(at)gmail.com
Leesa Gabel is a cancer survivor and she hopes that her story will encourage you to stay strong in whatever battle you might be facing.
As of February 17th 2009, Leesa reports that she is entering remission! Even with a few setbacks, like a quick trip to the ER to fight an MSRA Staph infection, she has beaten Leukemia!
This is her awesome story.
Jason: If you could encourage someone right now that is battling cancer, what would you say?
Leesa: You are not alone. There are so many people and organizations out there that are ready and willing to help you throughout your entire ordeal. The kindness and caring of even complete strangers is amazing and will probably overwhelm you. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help….don’t be afraid to admit that you’re scared or that you have questions.
Jason: So, what is the deal with cancer? What do you have? When did you find out? How are you doing right now?
Leesa: I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) on May 28, 2008. It’s the 65-year old man’s disease in a 37- year old woman’s body – it’s kind of the underachiever of leukemia (in my opinion). Finding out was a bit of a relief…I know that’s an odd thing to say….I had been feeling so extremely tired for such a long time (along with other symptoms) and my doctor kept telling me there was nothing wrong. I didn’t believe her, so I kept pushing and was starting to feel like it was in my head. Finally, a blood test with odd results prompted additional testing by a specialist (an oncologist) and a reason was discovered. To finally learn that there really was something wrong and that I wasn’t just imagining symptoms…well…that was a relief. Now I know what’s causing me to be so tired. Of course it opens up an entire new set of worries, but I just take it one day at a time. As of today, Feb. 17, 2009 – it looks like I’m entering remission.
Jason: What is keeping you strong?
Leesa: My faith in God – I know that whatever happens, it’ll be okay, I’ll be okay. The support of my family and friends – they help keep me focused on the positive. And laughter – I’ve tried to approach having cancer with humor.
Jason: What in the world is WOBO? How did it start?
Leesa: WOBO – Walking Our Butts Off. We were telling our friends about our decision to join Team in Training and train for a marathon. Someone said, ‘you guys will be walking your butts off’ and that’s all it took. It started as a simple website for us to use to track our fundraising progress and to blog about the experience and my health. We have family and friends spread out between numerous states and calling each of them with updates was exhausting – so the blog has come in very handy. But as we continued with our training, we realized that WOBO has the potential to become more than just our way to stay in touch with those around us. We’re still trying to figure out exactly what WOBO’s purpose is. We’ve now added Team WOBO to the mix. Team WOBO will be used to join together our friends and family and participate in various ‘team awareness events’ like March of Dimes or Relay for Life. We’ll put info up on the website with how others can join us for such events – either in person as a participant or as a financial donor. And we’re still brainstorming about the future….there are just so many possibilities.
Jason: How has walking changed your life?
Leesa: It took a cancer diagnosis to change my life. Literally. I never realized how a thing as simple as walking can have such a positive effect on you. I also have type 2 diabetes, and because of all the additional exercise – which honestly isn’t that much – I’ve seen my A1C levels go from 8% to 6.5% — my endocrinologist is very happy with me!! Plus walking just makes me feel good!! Sure it was hard at first; I had led such a sedentary lifestyle, that the first mile was hard. But after about four months….saying I’m going to go walk 8 miles seems like nothing at all.
Jason: Tell us about your husband, Craig. What is he doing to stay strong for you?
Leesa: Craig and I have been together since 1986….we married in 1992. I have more memories with him, than without him. Craig has always been the calm one – he makes sure I don’t over-react and that I try to see the positive in a situation. When I had to go back on a chemo pill and was feeling discouraged, he reminded me that it was a lower dosage and less frequent than before – he helped me see the positive. This whole experience – the cancer, the marathon training – has really taken our marriage to a new level. There are days that I am just overwhelmed by my feelings of love and appreciation for him – it’s so hard to even put into words. He most definitely blesses my life.
Jason: If someone wanted to give money to help you, what should they do?
Leesa: Log on to www.TeamWOBO.org – there’s a donation page that will list all the fundraisers we are currently doing. The links on the page go to secure sites where you can make a donation.
Jason: Did you find the LLS (The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) after your diagnosis or were you already aware of them?
Leesa: I had a vague awareness before. I had heard of various events that they sponsor, but I had never had any direct contact with them.
Jason: Tell us about how the LLS is helping you?
Leesa: Right now, they’re just there for me. Whether I use their services or not, it’s good knowing that they are there. I’ve been an active participate/volunteer for a few events. I like being able to give back – guess I look at volunteering at LLS like putting into a savings account – I keep making deposits (my time as a volunteer or fundraising) and one day I may make a withdrawal (use of patient services). I know there will be a day when I need to take advantage of the assistance programs that are offered, but until then I can keep giving and helping the programs. The staff that I’ve had contact with have all been so supportive. When I call about volunteer opportunities I don’t come right out and mention that I’m a leukemia survivor…but it eventually comes out…and when it does, the atmosphere of the call changes. I can hear the compassion in their voice – it’s nice.
Jason: What advice would you give to any one that is helping to care for a Cancer Patient?
Leesa: Help them to see the positive. Don’t let them stay ‘down’ for long. Having a positive attitude even in the worst situations can be hard, but it’s so helpful and beneficial to healing. Let the patient do as much for him/herself as he/she is able. They know their limitations. Don’t be afraid to let them talk about the “what if’s” – sometimes discussing the worst case scenarios has a positive effect….because you can always turn it around and look at the best case scenarios. Learning you have cancer and dealing with it is a process. Coming to terms with it won’t happen overnight. Also, think about finding someone to talk to yourself – being a caregiver is hard work. You’re not alone either.
Jason: You just finished the Walt Disney’s World Marathon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Tell us about it.
Leesa: Although I wasn’t able to finish the marathon [read Leesa’s post on her blog] – I had to take myself off the course due to an injury – being a part of Team In Training and getting a taste of a marathon definitely ranks in my Top 5 life experiences. It’s so hard to capture with words the experience. I highly, highly recommend signing up for at least one event at some point. It changes your life – and it’s such a positive change. My husband has already signed up for another event – the Hy-Vee Triathlon in June. I’m actually a bit jealous that I’m not able to do it with him because I see how excited and motivated he is. I’m now an alumnus for TNT and can attend any of the weekend trainings even though I’m not signed up for an event. I haven’t had a chance to do that yet, but I’m looking forward to getting back out there with my former teammates. There’s a bond that forms even in the short amount of time that we’re together. These strangers come together for a common cause – to help raise money to fund blood cancer research – they give so much of themselves for others they may never meet. I loved being an honored patient – especially one that was also able to be a participant. Like I said, it was a life-changing experience that is so hard to put into words.
Jason: What is next for you?
Leesa: I thought I knew. I had planned to do the 5K in the Olathe marathon in March, but a recent MRSA Staph infection and subsequent surgery and hospital stay put an end to my training. So right now I’m concentrating on healing. The infection was a real eye-opener. It came on so suddenly and spread so fast – it really made me mindful of how careful I need to be when it comes to protecting myself against germs and keeping healthy. But I won’t let it get me down. As soon as I’m able (or allowed by my doctor) I’ll get back out and walk – the weather is getting better and better. There’s plenty of time to train for the KC marathon in the fall. Plus….I believe another trip to do the Disney marathon next January is in the works!!
A great big thank you to Leesa and Craig for sharing their story.
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Follow Leesa and Craig on their blog: www.WalkingOurButtsOff.com
Donate to Leesa and Craig’s fundraising site: www.TeamWOBO.org
I always enjoy running into companies that have a wider view of what it means to be green. In the case of Josh Helke’s Organic Climbing, green doesn’t just mean reusing scraps of fabric (which they do) or powering their shop by wind energy (which they do) or promoting cell phone recycling (which they also do); but it means loving what you do and creating a product that will outlast the competition.
Jason: Organic Climbing – how did you come up with the name?
Josh: My wife is a Geologist. We were doing research near Price UT and I decided on the trip I wanted a better bouldering pad. We talked about starting our own company and making all pads one-of-a-kind by reusing our cutting scraps. We decided that they would all be organic-one-of-a-kind-artistic pieces.
Jason: How did you get your start with your company? Are you an entrepreneur or were you driven by your artistic/creative upbringing?
Josh: Creativity is in our family. My mother and younger brother are ceramist. I have designed and shaped hundreds of [climbing] holds for companies around the industry. I’ve designed gear. I’ve route set for over a decade and established over 700 first ascents. So, I have always been looking for some creative outlet. Once I started organic, I knew I could stop looking. I love what I do every day 100 percent. And I get to chat with awesome people around the world!
Jason: Has it been easy since the beginning of the biz or have there been tough times?
Josh: It has never been easy. When I started, I had never really used industrial sewing machines so when they would break (always at the worst times late at night) I would freak out. Then, as we grew, there was the how-to-hire-employees, train those employees, and be a boss man. Every step of the way is a new challenge; but, like in climbing, it is what keeps it fun and fresh.
Jason: What makes you happy to go to work everyday?
Josh: Knowing that I am creating pieces of gear that will make someone smile when the open them on the other end of shipping and be psyched for years to come. There is also something so cool about going on a trip (like I did this last weekend to the South east) and meeting customers face to face, getting an idea for new gear and getting right back to the shop and sewing up some prototypes. I get to create the gear people want with my 2 hands. It is soooo coool!!!
Jason: You’ve been climbing since you were 10. What are your favorite climbing / outdoor memories as a kid?
Josh: The many years my little brother and I spent exploring all across Minnesota and Wisconsin, developing awesome new sport and boulder lines. Also, the first year I moved out to Laramie WY, before I started Organic, Andy Rather, my wife Liz and I, would climb every day, averaging 5 new problems each. It was so awesome to have a fresh canvas in front of us to explore and climb.
Jason: Tell me about how you are green.
Josh: All of of our pads use a new soy foam open-cell as well as a non-PVC-closed-cell foam. We also reuse all of the cutting scraps in our shop to form the one-of-a-kind stripes you see on all of our gear! We also focus on building all our gear to the highest quality possible to be sure it lasts for ages. Our shop is also powered by 100 percent Wyoming wind energy!
Jason: I love that fact that you build equipment that lasts. Tell me about the environmental impact of your products.
Josh: We do have to ship our products and many of the materials we use in them, however we do our best to minimize our footprint by buying our foam and fabrics from USA suppliers and not outsourcing any of our products.
Jason: For climbers and boulderers that want to upgrade to Organic, what should we do with our old crash pads?
Josh: I tell people that there are so many kids clubs that can use them if they are in ok condition. You can keep them under your own climbing wall. Or, you can donate them to a local animal shelter to use for dog beds.
Jason: How are you spreading the word about taking care and being a good steward of our precious climbing areas?
Josh: We sponsor many many crag clean ups and we are very aware of who are local steward of areas and do our best to return support to those individuals. I try to travel to many of the major areas each year and we work with many grass-roots, local organizations through raffles, comps, etc. to help raise money for their projects.
Jason: What other climbing / outdoor companies do you like that support the environment?
Josh: I think FiveTen’s recycled rubber is really cool and forward thinking.
Honestly, I feel like many outdoor gear companies ride the green wave but are doing fairly little. I can rant on this for ages, but it is simple: make a bomber product, not one that falls apart, That way, you are doing the best thing possible by minimizing consumption. Why make it if it is not going to last??!!!
Jason: What’s your take on pad stashing?
Josh: I am not a fan, the game is to climb and carry your gear!
Jason: Favorite place to climb?
Josh: South eastern sandstone followed by my Minnesota homeland
Jason: Most rewarding line?
Josh: First ascent of Analog V9 Vedauwoo WY and First Ascent of Tugging Softly 5.13 Vedauwoo WY
Jason: Favorite shoes?
Josh: Currently Five Ten 5X, best all around shoe I have ever worn!
Jason: What cell phone do you use?
Josh: LC Chocolate
Jason: Do you have a favorite personal electronic gadget?
Josh: I like my Macbook and iPod
Jason: What is your take on the highballs that climbers are sending today – like Jorgeson’s Ambrosia – 45 feet up and others (some language on the Mirando video)?
Josh: It is the future of the sport for sure, and I am psyched to see people taking it to the next level!
Jason: How many Organic pads does it take to be safe (I mean little risk of injury) at 45 feet?
Josh: Pads can only do so much, if you have a well skilled spotter you can do amazing things and live to tell about it!!
Jason: Any tips for staying safe while bouldering?
Josh: Spot each other, spotting is so important, also watch your pad placements!
Jason: You guys doing anything different for your biz in this 2009 economy?
Josh: I am focusing on getting out more and showing people the quality of our pads first hand and talking to my customers and climbing with them in person. Face to face interaction is what we are about!
Jason: I love your YouTube video. At 1:45 you show the differences of Organic’s foam to other foams. That is quite a visual. You say that it is a proprietary product. Can you elaborate?
Josh: I can tell you that is is expensive but well worth it, and it is also eco sensitive : )
Jason: How long does it take for me to get my custom pad?
Josh: Pads can range from 2 days – 3 weeks depending on how difficult the custom design is and if you need it for a trip etc. I am always happy to help out a fellow climber : )
Jason: Last words?
Josh: Thanks to Cells for Cells and I would encourage people to check out the great service they provide and contribute!
Based in Kansas City, Barkley is a full-service advertising and marketing communications firm with some very well-known clients.
I am excited that I got the chance to talk to Kelly Francis, Technology Liaison Director for Barkley about advertising, battling cancer, and recycling.
Jason: Hi Kelly, let’s talk about advertising. What is your favorite TV commercial of all time and why?
Kelly: This is a tough one to answer. I loved the Bud Light “Wassup”series a few years ago. It coined a catch phrase that still gets used. The more recent Bud Light “Dude” series is equally good. Apparently I like beer commercials…which is interesting because I don’t like beer. : )
Jason: What is your favorite product that Barkley created the ad/marketing for?
Kelly: The Two Guys Sonic commercials, of course. People either love them or hate them…either way, they are being talked about. Which of course is still good publicity either way.
Jason: Here is one of my favorites:
Jason: What should small or medium sized companies be doing with their advertising / marketing in this economy?
Kelly: As the old adage says, “Advertising pays.” While budgets are being cut in just about every area of every company, it is still smart to keep your name/product out there. People are fickle and too easily forget if not reminded often of your product or services.
Jason: How easy is it to use a firm like Barkley?
Kelly: I’d be happy to put anyone in touch with our New Business department and let them take the lead there. Being in IT, we’re a little sheltered as to how it all comes together regarding obtaining new prospects and business.
Jason: What do you see for business in general for 2009?
Kelly: We, like most everyone else, are tightening our belts. Business is steady, but a down economy affects everyone. Not that it’s all doom and gloom though. This should be an opportunity for everyone to take stock of what is important and where changes can be made that would benefit everyone.
Jason: Fighting cancer seems to be a huge deal at Barkley. You are big supporters of Susan G. Komen. How did that start?
Kelly: Barkley was the first ad agency to brand a cause for Lee National Denim Days 12 years ago which benefited breast cancer awareness. The Susan G. Komen Foundation followed shortly thereafter because of being linked to LNDD.
Jason: How do you encourage other industries to get behind the fight against cancer?
Kelly: Our PR Department is instrumental in our Cause Branding efforts. A lot of companies want to be known for more than just the product they product or service they offer. They want to leave a legacy of giving as well, and we help them find their niche.
Jason: Kelly, I know that there are tons of cell phone recycling programs – why is Barkley promoting Cells for Cells?
Kelly: Two reasons: I like to use local companies whenever possible …whether I am purchasing items or donating to a worthy cause; and this truly is a worthy cause that I don’t think gets as much attention as some of the more well known and advertised organizations.
Jason: What recycling do you do at Barkley?
Kelly: We currently recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum cans, cell phones, electronic equipment (like computer monitors, printers, small electronics, TVs, etc.), and we are in the process of starting a program to recycle ink jet cartridges and alkaline/lithium batteries.
Jason: How long has recycling been a part of Barkley’s culture?
Kelly: It’s really grown in the last couple of years since we moved into our current building. We have implemented a lot of “green” processes besides just recycling. We also promote double-sided printing to save paper and use recycled paper products and utensils in our break rooms.
Jason: What do your hear your employees saying about recycling in the workplace?
Kelly: We offer an equipment recycle program twice a year to our employees allowing them to bring in whatever electronic items they have stored in their ba
sements or garage to be recycled or properly disposed. It’s been a very popular program.
Jason: How do you think you are positioned to best spread the word about recycling?
Kelly: My role as Technology Liaison Director is about communication. I am known as “The Link” between IT and the users, so I have the opportunity to spread the word effectively via posters in common areas, training sessions, department meetings, and of course via email.
Jason: On a bigger scale, what is Barkley doing to promote smarter recycling?
Kelly: We actually have a “Green” committee here called “Planet Fresh” that sends out tips for being greener and reducing our carbon footprint. Articles are published in our weekly newsletter that goes out to all employees with things everyone can do to live greener.
Jason: Have you or are you working on any major ad/marketing specific to recycling?
Kelly: Only internally with information that goes out to our employees with new processes we are putting into place, like the new ink jet and battery recycle programs that will be starting soon.
Jason: Do you see the other ad/marketing firms following your lead and participating in recycling programs?
Kelly: I’d certainly like to think so!
Jason: How do you encourage other industries to get behind recycling?
Kelly: I think just by being responsible citizens in general sets a good example. When we are in meetings with people from outside our agency, we encourage folks to put cans/paper/plastic/etc. in our recycle bins. We print 2-sided presentations or in Handout form which puts several slides on one page to reduce paper usage, or even better, we present via the web (no need to print at all!). Every little bit helps.
Jason: What is an easy recycling tip that you want to share?
Kelly: Junk mail is recyclable. You don’t even need to open it…just put it in the bin.
Jason: What is your favorite cell phone advertisement?
Kelly: Hmmm…I’d have to say the one with Ozzy Ozbourne talking and you can’t understand him, so he sends a text message…it’s just overall funny.
Jason: What cell phone do you currently use?
Kelly: I have an AT&T Blackberry Pearl 8100. It’s a couple of years old, fits nicely in my pocket and still works great. If it ain’t broke…well, you know the rest.
Jason: Last words?
Kelly: I like to look at everything as possibly either being recyclable or reusable. When you have something in your hand ready to toss in the trash, stop and think: do I really want this to be in a landfill.
A very special thank you to Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, for sharing this video.
Here are his words:
“There are moments when you feel the world is too much. Days and even weeks when you want to (or perhaps do) pull up the covers and half-sleep in bed until nightfall, avoiding a feeling of hopelessness that seems insurmountable. Long-awaited deals fall through without warning, haters attack you without reason or fact, circumstances turn good decisions into awful realities — sometimes it just feels like the deck is stacked against you and there is nothing you can do about it.
I’ve felt the same on more than a few occasions, and more are coming.”
Truth be told, I’ve felt that way many times in my life, too.
And if you or a loved one is battling cancer, that feeling of hopelessness could be 10 x 10 x 10 times worse than anything you could have ever imagined.
But…
…guess what? Lots and lots and lots of people survive cancer: Lance Armstrong, Christina Applegate, Rober DiNiro, Steve Jobs, Sheryl Crow, and many more. And not just famous people win their battle with cancer. Check out Richard Todd’s story at www.cellsforcells.com and how he beat leukemia in 44 days!
Stand back up! Finish strong! Beat Cancer! Win Your Battle! Watch this Video.