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Technical Officials unite this weekend to celebrate colleague's victory over cancer

The Technical Officials' community is a tight-knit one and officials are very supportive of each other both on and off the track and field.  Indeed, that communication is vital for the smooth running of athletics competitions with officials both within and between events and disciplines needing to see the bigger picture for everything to happen in a safe and fair manner.

This camaraderie continues off the track where friendships have been forged over many years of volunteering together.  And never more so late last year when the news that one of our top Field Officials had been diagnosed with late stage tonsil cancer with minimal chances of recovery.  Paul Rutter was the England Athletics Official of the Year in our annual Volunteer Awards in 2009, nominated by his peers.  Paul has mentored and supported dozens of less experienced officials and also set up an EDM rental company to ensure more efficient measuring of throws and jumps during competition and to enable a greater number of officials to become more familiar with the technology.

Paul was determined to fight the cancer, and with a huge outpouring of love and support from the officiating community all over the country, he did.

On the Sunday afternoon of this Athletics World Cup weekend, in aid of Cancer Research and in appreciation of successfully halting the progression of Terminal stage 4 cancer of the throat, Paul will be walking through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with a number of his fellow officials, many of whom will be officiating or spectating at the event.  So why not come along and support him, or you can donate or sponsor Paul, or even complete the virtual event option to run, swim, canoe, kayak or walk anywhere you’d like on your own time.

England Athletics recognise that so many within the Athletics community have also been affected by cancer and recognise and support the work of our volunteers through the good and bad times.  We wish Paul, his friends, colleagues and supporters all the best in their fundraising.