Local shines on team for disabled athletes

Howie Cohen, of East Meadow, was named athlete of the month for the Nassau Thunderbolts, a competitive boccia team for adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Cohen has been a member of the team since its inception in 1988. The Thunderbolts compete all over the world, and are affiliated with the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County.

Boccia, similar to bocce, involves athletes tossing leather balls as close as they can to a target ball of another color. It can be played indoors or outdoors.

Cohen has also competed in track, field and slalom events. In 2014, the Thunderbolts played in the National Boccia Tournament at Michigan State University. Cohen, along with his teammates, Danny Dalton, Charlie Fleisch, Keith Haarmann and Michael Salerno won silver medals. Teammate Rafael de Jesus won the gold medal. The team is coached by May Hodge, who is also a staff member at the UCPN.

The team will soon be competing in tournaments in Canada and Poland. “I feel that being on the Thunderbolts has given me the opportunity to live out a dream,” said Cohen. “In doing so, I learned what it is to be an athlete, on and off the court.”

To learn more about the Thunderbolts, visit their Facebook page.