By VDC staff

Little Fenway, an Essex Town whiffleball field built to imitate Fenway Park, the home of the major league baseball Boston Red Sox, is the scene of an upcoming documentary about community of people supporting people afflicted with type 1 diabetes.

SLAMT1D, a nonprofit organization supporting people living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), will premiere its new documentary, More Than a Game: A SLAMT1D Story, on YouTube on November 10.

It all comes together at the iconic Little Fenway, where a weekend of hope, fun and connection has become something much bigger than a game. The film celebrates the people who make SLAMT1D what it is today – volunteers, players, supporters, and fans who have come together to build a community that has grown into a family, united by a shared commitment to supporting those living with Type 1 diabetes.

“On the day of diagnosis, a whole dose of fun and freedom is robbed from that person and their family,” says Jeff Kolok, CEO of SLAMT1D. “Because of this, we want to make sure we infuse everything we do with fun.”

Kolok is the featured guest on Chronicle Conversations today, Friday October 30 at 12:30 PM on WVMT radio AM 620, FM 101.3, and live and on podcast at wvmtradio.com.

Kolok’s philosophy of finding fun together in the face of a cruel, progressive disease is the foundation of the Summer Classic, the centerpiece of the film. The annual wiffle ball tournament takes place at the Little Fenway Complex in Essex. It’s a one-of-a-kind destination featuring miniature versions of some of America’s most storied ballparks, including Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field and the Field of Dreams. Each summer, players and teams from all over come together for a weekend of fun competition while raising awareness of T1D and funds for SLAMT1D’s programs supporting children, adults and families living with the disease. 

Over the past 15 years, the Summer Classic has raised more than $2.3 million, including over $1.1 million in the last two years alone. The 16th Annual Summer Classic will take place August 6-8, 2027.

How to Watch

More Than a Game: A SLAMT1D Story premieres November 10 on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@slamt1d

View trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oioVkpCmswE