Cells for Cells

Recycle Cell Phones to Help Families Battling Cancer

Cells for Cells

Cells for Cells reaches $20,000 raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

by

Today, with great excitement, I would like to announce that Cells for Cells has reached the $20,000.00 mark in money raised for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

We could not have done this without the help of so many wonderful people and companies.

I have to first thank Janna LaCock, executive director of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society here in Kansas City. Janna – thank you for believing in us and trusting us with this little idea to raise money by recycling cell phones!

I have to say thank you to everyone in the Orange County and Philadelphia Chapters for allowing us to start Cells for Cells in your cities – Kimberly and Janine and Marissa and Dana – thank you.

And thank you to all of our partners that loyally support us – this would not happen if it wasn’t for you. Please share my gratitude with all of your employees who have donated their phones to Cells for Cells.

Please remember that the cell phones that YOU recycle are used to generate money for the Patient Financial Aid Programs of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. With that money, cancer patients and their families have access to financial resources for drugs, medicines, blood screening, transfusions, transportation costs, and co-pay assistance.

I am very comfortable saying that YOUR old cell phones are a tool to help beat cancer and to help save a life.

Looking forward to an incredible 2009,

Jason Clements

Cells for Cells promoting Sterling Rope’s Rope Redemption Program

by

One of the great things about Cells for Cells is that by donating to our program, you’re doing two good things in one: helping families that are battling cancer, and reducing waste through recycling. It’s our commitment to reducing needless waste, (and CFC co-founder, Jason Clements’ love for rock-climbing) that’s led us to a partnership with Sterling Rope.

A high-tech nylon rope manufacturer, Sterling Rope recently launched its Rope Recycling Redemption Initiative, making it the only company in the United States which recycles nylon rope. Because we support Sterling Rope’s commitment to the environment, we decided to ask Outdoor Product Manager John Branagan some questions to increase awareness of this fantastic program.

The Sterling Redemption Initiative was actually John Branagan’s brain child. We spoke with John to ask him some questions about his program, his passions, and why programs like Cells for Cells and the Sterling Initiative are so important.

Jason: Sterling is leading the way in climbing rope recycling, how did it all start?

John: I was inspired by my wife (who wanted me to get rid of my ‘retired’ ropes that were kicking around our house) and by an image of ropes in a dumpster at Yosemite. Such a waste…

Jason: Is Sterling Rope really the only company in the US that is recycling rope?

John: YES. Millet does it in Europe, but not here in the US.

Jason: Can you recycle any kinds of rope?

John: Yes, any nylon (dynamic) rope can be recycled.

Jason: What happens to a recycled rope?

John: It is sent to a recycler that specializes in fibers. It is reprocessed and pelletized to be used in other manufacturing processes.

Jason: Where do I buy/support the companies that use recycled ropes to create new products?

John: Go to GreenGuru.com for more information

Jason: Do you see the other climbing industries (shoes, hardware, etc.) following your lead and creating recycling programs?

John: YES – there is a company that is taking back bouldering crash pads. I hope more try to do it.

Jason: How does Sterling’s effort really have an impact on me?

John: We all have choices, and I hope that our efforts impact you the climber to choose a brand that is at least trying to make a difference in our world.

Jason: How many miles of rope would you guess you’ve have recycled?

John: Well it is thousands and thousands of pounds so far, and the average rope a climber uses is just under 10 lbs.

Jason: What is Sterling’s ultimate recycling goal?

John: Our goal is simple: to provide an outlet for people to easily recycle their retired ropes with the least amount of impact on the environment.

Jason: So how can I recycle my rope?

John: 1) Look for Sterling Rope Redemption centers at climbing comps, slide shows, festivals, crag cleanups and indoor gyms around the country.

2) Send the retired rope right back to us at:

Sterling Rope Company, Inc.

C/O: Rope Recycling Program

26 Morin Street

Biddeford, ME 04005-4413

Jason: How do I promote rope recycling at my gym?

John: Ask the gym owner or manager what they do with their old ropes and tell them about the Sterling Rope program (www.sterlingrope.com/recycle.asp)

Jason: Okay, so what’s the deal with recycling cell phones? Why is a rope company promoting cell phone recycling?

John: Everything that can be recycled should be recycled. I feel it is our responsibility to spread the word that old ropes or old phones are NOT trash— they are resources that need to be recycled!

Jason: How did you get hooked up with Cells for Cells?

John: Over e-mail. (Jason’s note – I reached out to Sterling rope after seeing their ad in Urban Climber about their rope recycling program.)

Jason: Hey man, I know there are tons of cell phone recycling programs – why is Sterling promoting Cells for Cells?

John: Cells for Cells has put more thought and research into the idea than most.

Jason: Let’s get away from business – how long have you been climbing?

John: Since 1989, but I’m still a recreational hacker…

Jason: What are your favorite shoes?

John: My new favorites are Evolv.

Jason: Where is you all-time favorite place to climb?

John: Too many great choices! The places closest to home are always the best (North Conway, NH for me) but the New River Gorge in West Virginia is amazing!

Jason: Did you work at Sterling first and then become a climber or vice versa?

John: I was a climber first.

Jason: What are your favorite climbing websites?

John: NE Climbs (www.neclimbs.com). It is small and local.

Jason: What are your favorite climbing magazines?

John: Alpinist, Climbing, Urban Climber, Rock & Ice, and DeadPointMag

Jason: What cell phone do you currently use?

John: Moto Razor

Jason: Any new ropes coming out?

John: Our NEW Ion 9.5 is just hitting stores and has been getting great reviews.

Jason: When you are climbing outdoors, do you see signs that the climbing community has good stewardship?

John: Yes. I think the Access Fund, HERA foundation, and Climb for a Cure are all great examples.

Jason: What can climbers do to be better at recycling?

John: Think of everything they buy, from bottled water to rock shoes: we need to ask ourselves, ‘when this thing has stopped being usable, what am I going to do with it?’

Jason: What can anyone do to be better at recycling?

John: Add to preexisting programs like the Access Fund or HERA Foundation. Increase your efforts. If your local recycling center doesn’t take an item like batteries or # 5 plastics, don’t give up! The neighboring town might. If you look online you can find a way to recycle lots of things.

Jason: Last words?

John: There is no Silver Bullet solution to better living. There is however “Silver Buckshot” – if we all do a small part to contribute to solving a problem like excess waste we can have a serious impact.

________________________________________________________________

If you have nylon ropes you wish to recycle, visit Sterling Rope Redemption centers at climbing competitions or festivals and indoor gyms across the country. You can also send your retired rope to the following address:

Sterling Rope Company, Inc

C/O: Rope Recycling Program

26 Morin Street

Biddeford, ME 04005-4413

For more information on the Sterling Rope Redemption Initiative, please visit their website at http://www.sterlingrope.com/recycle.asp

FYI on sharing photos on Flickr for Cells for Cells Family

by

I uploaded my first picture that I want included in our Cells for Cells Family for the new website.

This is me (Jason Clements), my younger brother, James, and my grandfather. We called him Papi (pop – ee). We were trying to remember when this was taken, and we think it was either 1996 or 1997 at Christmastime. Papi passed away from cancer in 2005.

I still miss him…

…and this is why I do Cells for Cells.

Finding cellsforcells family photos on flickr.com

I searched for this photo on flickr.com and could not find it. It only took a few minutes to find out why. I just didn’t have enough photos in my account for flickr to index my pics.

Keep this in mind if you want to add your photos for the Cells for Cells family and you are new to flickr.com. If you only upload one picture, we will not be able to find it to add to our website.

Here’s the info directly from www.flickr.com:

Why aren’t my photos appearing in groups or searches?

If your account is new, first you need to upload at least 5 photos. After that minimum has been reached, then it shouldn’t take more than a few days until your photos appear in searches, groups, etc. To make sure your photos show in searches, remember to add accurate tags and descriptions.

If your account is not new and some of your images are not showing, here are a few things you can check,

  • What is the safety setting? Items marked as moderate or restricted will not show in badges, RSS feeds, for people that have safe search on, or are not logged in.
  • Is your account hidden from search?
  • If only some photos aren’t showing, make sure they are not flagged to be hidden from searches.

Sneak peek at the new website and submit pictures to be a part of the Cells for Cells family

by

As promised, we have a capture of our new site. It is almost ready to go live.

One of the new goals of our website is to involve YOU.

We would love to have you become a part of Cells for Cells. If you are:

  • a family battling cancer
  • supporting a family battling cancer
  • caring for a family battling cancer
  • praying for a family battling cancer
  • battling cancer, yourself

In the photo area, on the homepage, we will rotate pictures that you, our Cells for Cells family, provide. Please join us by submitting a photo of you, your family, or your loved one. We would be honored to have you as a part of our Cells for Cells family.

Follow these simple steps:

1. upload your favorite picture to www.flickr.com
2. flickr.com is free. open a free account if you don’t alread have one
3. tag your pictures with “cellsforcells family”
4. write a brief description of the picture – we want your story to be a part of Cells for Cells

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jason

The Super Awesome, Lots of Things Happening / We Can Recycle Any Cell Phone Video

by

Cells for Cells Episode 4

I have to first thank Penn Treaty from Philadelphia for donating a large box of phones. It was the perfect box to shoot this video with a nice mix of brand new phones and really old brick phones. What is so neat is that we can recycle all of it. Thank you Penn Treaty for supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Philadelphia.

*** NOTE to Orange County / Inland Empire Chapter ***

Janine Ingram asked me to customize your poster for the Light the Night Walk that you are having at Angel Stadium on September 20th. If you can, please use this Battle Cancer with a Cell Phone poster.

We will have the blank poster available for download in the next 24 hours at scribd.com

www.fatmanunleashed.com

I like Israel Lagares. I enjoy that he is genuine. I enjoy that his mission is to help people just like Cells for Cells. His other site is www.healthranker.com. When you finish watching the vid here, jump over to either of Israel’s sites.

Wonderful, wonderful!

Jason

Cells for Cells: Episode 3 FedEx shipping information

by

##########

Requesting a free FedEx shipping label is easy:

1. send an email to label (at) cellsforcells (dot) com
2. include your mailing address in your email
3. please include at least 10 20 cell phones to recycle
* If you dont’ have 10 20 phones to donate, Buddy Up with another Cells for Cells supporter
* Combine your phones to help decrease shipping costs

##########

Welcome to the Philadelphia Chapter and the Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter.

##########

Need more info about launching Cells for Cells in your chapter at your office? Contact Jason at jclements (at) cellsforcells (dot) com.