13 Nov SLAMT1D Launches $1,000 Empowerment Grant for Student-Athletes Living with Type 1 Diabetes
This new grant invites various collegiate athletes, living with T1D, to share their story in their own words and inspire the next kid pursuing their dreams after a diagnosis.
ESSEX, VT – November 13, 2026 – SLAMT1D, a nonprofit organization supporting people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), announced the launch of the T1D Tough Empowerment Grant, a $1,000 grant awarded to a student-athlete living with T1D. In exchange, the recipient will create and share a five-part series that pulls back the curtain on life as an athlete with type 1 diabetes.
T1D doesn’t stop young athletes from competing, but their stories often stay invisible. There is a gap between what people assume T1D athletes go through and what it actually looks like day to day. The spotlight is designed to close that gap, by putting real athletes’ stories in front of the people who need to see them most: newly diagnosed kids and their families.
“Being a part of the SLAMT1D Empowerment Grant is honestly a big honor of mine. I love to represent my type 1 diabetes in any way, shape, or form, and SLAMT1D is giving me the space and platform to do just that,” says Layla Lerus, SLAMT1D’s very first grant recipient. “I’m so happy to have been chosen for this grant and to share my story with others. My hope is that people can enjoy and relate to the content that I share.”
The featured athlete will be spotlighted across SLAMT1D’s social platforms and will share the content to their own channels. The series includes:
- Introductory Post: SLAMT1D introduces the athletes to its audience.
- A Day in the Life: A video following their daily routine, from practice to class, and how T1D factors into preparation, performance, and recovery.
- Pregame Chat: A closer look at how they get ready for gameday.
- Postgame Chat: What happens after the final whistle, from recovery to managing blood sugar throughout the evening.
- Diagnosis Story: A personal account of their diagnosis, shared in their own words to help others living with T1D feel less alone.
The T1D Tough Empowerment Grant is part of SLAMT1D’s ongoing mission to use sport and storytelling to empower people living with T1D and highlight the resilience it takes to live with the disease.
How to Apply
Collegiate student-athletes can apply for the T1D Tough Empowerment Grant at https://www.slamt1d.org/t1d-tough/.
About SLAMT1D
SLAMT1D is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and amplifying the voices of people living with type 1 diabetes. Through sport, storytelling and games, SLAMT1D works to empower people living with T1D, educate the public, and highlight the resilience required to live with a disease that never takes a day off.
Media Contact
Melanie Cammarano
melcamm@slamt1d.org