Nominated by Active Cumbria, Rolf Cooley is being passed on the baton from 2013 Shining Light Matthew Kirkby.

Rolf has always enjoyed sport. An active child at school, Rolf represented his school in football, swimming and cross-country. On leaving school his focus was very much on football and he played whenever he could. Alongside taking part in sport, Rolf always had the desire to give something back, which came in the form of youth leadership skills and swim coaching whilst in his late teens. This was put on hold when Rolf went to work in Birmingham but running and football continued whenever there was a spare moment.

Rolf always had a strong will to win and improve on what he had done before, which were ethics that he developed in a very successful IT career. Rolf was asked to coach a new girls section at Cockermouth Junior Football Club. Whilst doing this, his children were getting their first taste of triathlon at their Primary School.

After finishing Primary School Rolf's children were still interested in participating in triathlon, but there were no specific opportunities to do so. This was the main driver for Rolf to set up Tri Lakeland Juniors Triathlon Club in Cockermouth, with Jeff Thorpe who is the club’s head coach. Rolf's involvement has now grown well past this initial driver with 65 members needing regular triathlon coaching. Rolf attends the majority of the coaching sessions, doing admin or organising. Rolf organises a large triathlon event each year, which is a Community Games, along with three smaller events throughout the year. 

All the time and effort that Rolf delivers into triathlon, locally and regionally, along with his football coaching, his view is all about offering children an opportunity. Everyone deserves an opportunity and this is one way that he can offer that to them.

Commenting on his involvement with Community Games, Rolf said “Each event that I've been involved with organizing has been a challenge but by the end of the day you are on such a high seeing everyone, competitors and spectators, going home happy and wanting more - brilliant!”