Challenger League Gives Children with Disabilities a Chance to Compete

When Lee Cook started the East Meadow Challenger League in 1989, he had one goal — to give children with disabilities a chance to play ball and have fun.

Now 23 years later, the Challenger League registers more than 100 kids per season, none of whom are charged a cent to play. Cook raises the money, and he also have sponsors, including Semantics, the East Meadow Kiwanis and the Wantagh Knights of Columbus, to name a few.

While many of the kids live locally, people come way from Dix Hills to Whitestone to play at the

“It’s amazing,” Cook said. “I’m blessed to be able to do this and supply this for these kids.”

The league is made up of five different teams. They play on Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon starting on April 15. The season continues through June, and then the kids also play in September and October.

Perhaps the most special aspect of the program, according to Cook, is how children without disabilities from the little league baseball and softball programs buddy up with the children with disabilities during the games.

“It’s building a new generation of people that go out and care about others,” Cook said. “They give back, and that’s amazing.”

Cook is also the co-founder of the Nassau County Challenger Tournament, in which teams from all over Nassau and Suffolk are invited to compete.

“We barbecue for the kids, they get trophies, and it’s just a great program,” he added.

For more information on the East Meadow Challenger League, and for registration information, visit the website or call Lee Cook at 516-481-0943.

Does your child participate in the East Meadow Challenger League? Tell us in the comments!