The UK Elite Champion Window Cleaners

All of the money that Mark raises during the challenge will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "He is a window cleaner by day and incredibly he was able to maintain his job during his training."

Injury scuppers Penkridge marathon man Mark Vaz's Land's End to John O'Groats challenge: Intrepid marathon man Mark Vaz is rescheduling his latest gruelling challenge – to run from Lands End to John O Groats – after injury stopped him in his tracks. The Penkridge resident, who ran 90 marathons in 90 days last year, has now set his sights on the cross-country feat as well as upping his current marathon challenge from 400 in a year to 1,000 in 730 days.

Last month he racked up the most 26.2-mile runs ever completed by a single runner in a calendar year when he completed his 240th event on February 20. He has been backed by Microsoft Band, a fitness tool made by the global technology giant, and Penkridge Round Table.

He started his Lands End to John O'Groats challenge at 4am on Thursday, but following issues with his foot he took the decision to postpone it in the early hours of Friday. On his Facebook page Mr Vaz, 32, of Bridgewater Close, said he would be taking on the challenge again in May.

A Round Table spokesman said: "As well as being mentally and physical draining the attempt to run that many marathons has also proved to be a challenge logistically. On some days Mark would (run) two marathons in order to complete his challenge.

"Mark hopes to inspire people and show that you can achieve anything you want to. All of the money that Mark raises during the challenge will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. "He is a window cleaner by day and incredibly he was able to maintain his job during his training." To sponsor Mr Vaz visit this page.

Calvin Routledge out training: "My window cleaning business is based in Ambleside and I work three days a week on the windows in South Lakes."

Ambleside window cleaner wins Army Orienteering championships - An Ambleside window cleaner has won the Army Individual Orienteering Championships held in Sherwood Forest. Calvin Routledge, 47, took the title from champion and Welsh International Major Richard Barrett by six minutes and stopped him winning the title for the fifth consecutive year.

The victory helped Calvin retain his ranking among the elite orienteers in the Army and added to his list of good-quality recent performances at the Inter Services/UK Armed Forces orienteering events and Corps and Army Cross-Country Championships

Calvin was born in Kendal and lived in Ambleside/Skelwith Bridge until he joined the Army at 16 after leaving the Lakes School. Prior to joining up he played football for Ambleside senior teams and ran for Ambleside. He served for about 23 years or so, including 10 years in the airborne brigade. When he left the Army he was a management accountant andWarrant Officer.

"I purchased part of our old window cleaner's round in Langdale/Grasmere/Hawkshead/Ambleside five years ago. It was rather a strange career move but I enjoyed the fresh air but maybe not the rain so much! "My business is based in Ambleside and I work three days a week on the windows in South Lakes. I also have a part time role as RSM of the CCF cadet unit at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. I currently live in Lancaster but seem to spend most of my time working, training or racing in the Lakes."

Business is based in Ambleside and work 3 days on the windows in South Lakes. I also have a part time role as RSM of the CCF cadet unit at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. Currently living in Lancaster but seem to spend most of my time working/training/racing in the Lakes."

5 Texas Window Cleaners Injured In Scaffold Collapse

Police tape surrounds a scaffold that three men were on Wednesday afternoon while cleaning windows of the Webb County Courthouse. 

Five fall several feet at Webb County Justice Center (LAREDO, TEXAS) - One person is still in a Laredo hospital after a scaffolding accident at the justice center that injured five people. It happened at about four in the afternoon on Wednesday. We're told four workers were cleaning windows on the third floor, when they fell and hit the pavement injuring a fifth person on the ground. They were all taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from a dislocated shoulder to a broken wrist.

Webb County investigators are trying to find out exactly what happened. "We're trying to get eyewitnesses to see exactly what happened. As you know, when something like this happens there's different stories so we're just trying to find out exactly what happened", said Sanchez. The Webb County judge's office county judge issued a statement this evening saying of the victims "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families."

Men injured in scaffolding incident at courthouse released from hospitals: The five men who were injured Wednesday in a scaffolding incident at the Webb County Courthouse have been discharged from local hospitals. At least one had broken ribs and another a dislocated shoulder. At about 4 p.m. Wednesday, two men fell from a scaffold while cleaning windows on the third floor of the courthouse while another who was on the scaffold clung to the edge of a window. Two men on the ground tried to catch the man who clung to the window, but all ended up getting injured.

Webb County's risk management department is conducting an investigation into the incident. Tano Tijerina, Webb County judge, issued the following statement Thursday: "Yesterday was a defining day for us as a Webb County family. I am truly grateful that all of the men injured are going to fully recover. What could have been cause for chaos was actually an instrumental moment.

"Our Webb County family came together as one; the Constables Office, Sheriff's Office, our Webb County employees and Laredo Police Department rallied together to help our injured employees. Most importantly, there was compassion, and the sense that others came first. This is what our Webb County family is about.

"Thank you to the courthouse staff for their heartfelt response during this unfortunate accident. Thank you to the Laredo Fire and EMS, the Sheriff's Office, Constables Office, Webb County employees, the Laredo Police Department, and those who called in expressing their concerns and well wishes for the injured. "What a great example of working in tandem. I am proud to work for you and with you. We are a family. Our prayers during this time of healing continue to be with our employees."

Window Washer Injured In Chain Reaction Crash

2 Hurt When Car Hits Cab, Window Washing Van In River North: Two people were in the hospital Thursday morning, after a motorist slammed into a cab and a window washing van in River North – knocking the window washer right off the scaffolding mounted on top. Around 3:40 a.m. Thursday, the driver of a black Infiniti slammed into the cab at State and Ohio streets. The driver then hit the window washing van, and the scaffolding fell. The window washer was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was reported in stable condition. A passenger in the cab was also hurt. There was no word on that person’s condition or the hospital to which the person was taken. The driver of the Infiniti told witnesses he was speeding away to get away from someone shooting at him near the Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s a couple of blocks away at Clark and Ohio streets. No one was in police custody as of 5 a.m. Thursday.

Chase sets off chain-reaction crash, washer knocked off scaffold: A BMW chased an Infiniti on the Near North Side early this morning, ramming it and setting off a chain-reaction accident that knocked a 25-foot scaffolding out from under a window-washer, according to police. The chase began around 3:25 a.m. as the Infiniti was headed east on Ohio Street, according to police. It was unclear what started the chase, but the driver of the Infiniti told officers he thought he recognized the driver of the BMW, according to preliminary police reports. The BMW started following the Infiniti and rear-ended it, police said. The Infiniti driver said the BMW driver brandished a weapon and then he heard gunshots, but police have not confirmed that any shots were fired, said Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli. The Infiniti continued east on Ohio Street and was rammed again by the BMW, causing the Infiniti to lose control and collide with a taxi near Ohio and State streets, Mirabelli said. The Infiniti’s airbags deployed and the car to lost control and struck a Ford truck owned by a window cleaning service. Either the Infiniti or the truck then crashed into scaffolding where a worker was cleaning the windows of a restaurant, police said. He fell 25 feet to the ground and was taken Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where his condition has stabilized, Mirabelli said. The driver of the taxi was also taken to Northwestern, where he was treated and released. The Infiniti is registered to Carlos Rivera of Palatine, who said he had sold the car to a friend. "He told me he was getting shot at and that’s why he crashed," Rivera said. "He said he was being chased by someone but didn’t know why.” Police are questioning the driver of the Infiniti, but the driver of the BMW has not been found. He was last seen headed east on Ohio. 

A speeding car, apparently racing another vehicle early Thursday, crashed into a cab that hit a hydraulic lift, police said.

Window Washer Injured in Chain Reaction Crash: A window washer and a taxi driver were injured early Thursday after a car speeding down Ohio Street crashed. Two cars apparently were racing each other around 3:30 a.m. when a car struck a cab near State Street, police said. The taxi hit a hydraulic life and knocked a man working on the lift to the ground. The window washer and cabbie were both taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where they were listed in fair condition. So far, there's no word on charges.

Baltimore Window Cleaner Rescue

Firefighters Rescue Window Washer Trapped Outside 10th Floor of Towson Building: Baltimore County firefighters rescued a window washer who was trapped dangling in his harness for nearly an hour outside the 10th floor of a high-rise building near the Towson Town Center Mall.

The window washer was transported to Maryland Shock Trauma to be treated for injuries. Fire officials did not identify the window washer and did not say what type of injuries he suffered.

Fire officials received the 911 call at 12:18 p.m. and rescued him at 1:10 p.m. An advanced tactical rescue team from the Texas fire station helped with the rescue. One rescuer rappelled from the building's roof while another firefigther attempted to assist from a window near the window washer. Other rescuers ascended to the trapped man in a basket affixed to the end of a fire truck's ladder.

A window washer was trapped Thursday outside an assisted living facility at 800 Southerly Road.

A window washer hangs outside a window at 800 Southerly Road, an assisted living facility for the elderly. Residents on the left watch the window washer on the right.

The window washer, who appeared to be concious, was placed in the basket and returned to the ground. He was then placed on a strecther and taken away by an ambulance to Maryland Shock Trauma, officials said. The fire department issued this notification at 12:38 p.m. that fire officials are "on the scene of a high-rise tactical rescue at 800 Southerly Road" in Towson.

Shortly after 1 p.m. firefighters rescued the window washer, whose identity is not yet known. The original notification from the fire department from spokeswoman Elise Armacost stated: "Preliminary reports say a window washer in a harness is trapped outside the 10th floor. Advanced tactical rescue personnel are en route."

Edenwald, a luxury assisted-living community for seniors, is located at 800 Southerly Road. The set of high-rise buildings just across the street from Towson Town Mall provides amenities such as an indoor pool, fitness center, pub, lounge, chapel, putting green, and air-conditioned walking track.

Baltimore County firefighters rescue a window washer who had been trapped outside the 10th floor of a Towson building.

Balloons & Gels May Help Window Cleaners With Tendonitis & OsteoArthritis

How a balloon could lift pain from your shoulders: A small balloon is the latest tool for tackling chronic shoulder pain. The balloon is implanted in the shoulder and then pumped with fluid to the size of a small orange. This then acts as a cushion between the bone and damaged muscle and tendons, preventing further damage and allowing the inflamed tissue to heal. Around one in five Britons develops shoulder pain at some time; the most common cause in the over-40s is a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons which secures the top of the arm into the shoulder joint.

Common rotator cuff injuries include tendonitis - where the tendons become inflamed through being overused or overloaded - and bursitis, where a fluid-filled pad that cushions the tendons becomes irritated and inflamed. A fall or lifting too heavy an item can also cause tears in the muscles or tendons of the cuff. Rotator cuff injuries become more common with age because tendons and muscles weaken. Sportsmen and women involved in activities which require repetitive movements of the shoulders such as rowing and swimming, or people whose jobs require reaching, such as painting and window cleaning, are particularly at risk.

Some conditions including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis can also make injury more likely. Although a rotator cuff injury can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy, in some cases surgery remains the only option. Traditionally, this involves repairing any tears in the muscles or removing worn bone that may be jutting out and causing muscles and tendons to snag on it. However, this carries the risks associated with a general anaesthetic. The new device, on trial at four centres in Italy and Israel, can be implanted as an outpatient under local anaesthetic. The treatment is aimed at increasing the size of the space between the bone and cuff to reduce contact and therefore pain.

During the trial, patients had a tiny incision made in the skin using a special hollow implanting tool. When it reached the rotator cuff, a folded and deflated balloon was inserted through the tool and left at the tip. A syringe connected to the other end of the implanting tool was then used to inflate the balloon using saline solution. The procedure takes around ten minutes. Once inflated, the balloon - developed by Israel-based BioProtect - acts as a barrier between the injured tissue and the bone, allowing it to heal. Over time the balloon degrades, although research from pilot studies suggests that the benefits of the extra room in the shoulder remain - so, in theory, preventing the problem happening again. A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK, which funds research into rotator cuff injuries, said the device sounded promising. 'We will be interested to see the outcome of the trial, and most importantly whether the beneficial effects are sustained once the balloon degrades.'

A gel injected into the knee could help prevent osteoarthritis. The liquid gel turns into a solid once inside the joint and creates a kind of scaffold that helps new cartilage grow. Cartilage acts as the body's shock absorber, stopping bones rubbing together. But once it has been damaged or worn away, it is not very good at regenerating. The new gel - developed at the Northwestern University in IIllinois, U.S. - addresses that problem. Once the gel sets, it forms a kind of fibrous matrix made up of hundreds of tiny tunnels. A special ingredient in the gel then binds to certain growth factors in the blood - these are chemicals that, in high quantities, can stimulate the production of new cartilage. With a high level of growth factors 'trapped' in the matrix, cartilage cells begin to thrive. The gel, which is still undergoing testing, could be available in three to five years.

Also click below to see the article from American Window Cleaner Magazine.