Nike Unveils 20th Doernbecher Freestyle Collection

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The Doernbecher Freestyle program by NIKE, Inc. and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital returns for the 20th year with six new footwear styles designed by young Doernbecher patients.

Every year since 2004, the Doernbecher Freestyle program has provided young Doernbecher patients the opportunity to express themselves through sneaker design, channeling their interests into inspiring footwear styles adorned with intricate details, hidden messages, and unexpected color palettes. Each design is auctioned and sold to benefit the hospital as part of a signature fundraiser that has raised $37 million since its inception. All profits go to the OHSU Foundation, benefiting Doernbecher, to help fund the cost of care for families in need, support specialized treatment unavailable elsewhere in the region and expand pioneering research that benefits kids around the world.

This year’s lineup features six silhouettes re-envisioned by Doernbecher patient-designers, including the Air Jordan 6, Nike Sabrina 2, Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41, Nike Air Max DN, Nike Air Max SNDR, and Air 180. In a new touch for this year’s collection, each of the silhouettes will come packaged in a custom, split-open box, similar to the packaging for the TEKKEN 8 x Nike Air Foamposite One. A Nike Tech Fleece hoodie that incorporates elements from each of the patient-designers’ shoes is also included in the collection.

In addition to these six footwear designs, a limited run of 20 Air Jordan XX “Doernbecher Freestyle” sneakers will be auctioned at Sotheby’s, with all proceeds benefiting Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Each pair is individually numbered and features a tapestry of laser graphics celebrating the collection’s two decades and 122 patient-designers. The pairs are accompanied by a t-shirt and Nike Tech Fleece bomber jacket featuring the special-edition laser print. The online auction will open for bidding October 21 and close October 30 at noon EST. More information can be found at sothebys.com/DB20.

Following the auction, the Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 20 collection will be made available globally this winter on SNKRSnike.com, and at select retailers, with 100% of profits supporting the hospital’s mission of providing essential care, specialized treatment, and advancing pioneering research. Learn more about this year’s patient-designers and their footwear silhouettes below.

Jillian Beagly

Age: 14
Diagnosis:
 Liver Transplant
Shoe:
 Air Jordan 6 Retro

Diagnosed with a serious liver disease as an infant, Jillian Beagley underwent a transplant when she was 11. Today, the upbeat teen is back to playing her favorite sports and already has a state basketball title under her belt. Her Air Jordan VI is all about options, with fun, interchangeable patches and toe boxes that reveal a different color with wear. Embroidered on those toe boxes, Jillian shares a heartfelt message: Give Life. “That’s a tribute to my liver donor,” Jillian says. “Thanks to them, I have a second chance at life.”

Air Jordan 6 by Jillian Beagley
Style Code: IB6059-920
Release Date: Holiday 2024
Price: $200 USD

Jillian’s knack wearing mismatched Jordan colorways on-court led to the alternating color palette on her very own Air Jordan 6.
The left medial midsole displays Jillian’s handwritten mantra: “SPORTS ARE MY JOY” (the right medial says “IT’S WHO I AM”).
The collar puff on the Air Jordan 6 is replaced by hook-and-loop material for added customization.
Patches of Jillian’s favorite things include: basketball, soccer, lacrosse, cucumbers and her favorite tumbler.
Jillian believes everyone is “Pure Gold” when they are true to themselves. These words appear on the left and right heel.
“Give Life” signifies Jillian’s gratefulness as a liver-transplant recipient. The toe boxes also wear away to showcase a secret color.
The Pure Gold theme shines through on the sparkly lace shroud and lace lock.

Sophia Jenkins

Age: 9
Diagnosis
: Osteosarcoma
Shoe
: Nike Sabrina 2

When Sophie Jenkins lost part of her right leg to bone cancer, she didn’t let it slow her down. Instead, she set her sights on becoming a parasport athlete and promptly taught herself to do a one-legged backflip. The resilient kid loves her pickle stuffie, floral stickers and the pink fuzzy blanket she’s had since she was a baby. You’ll find all the above on her happy-go-lucky Sabrina 2, along with a reminder to live life Sophia Strong.

Nike Sabrina 2 by Sophia Jenkins
Style Code: IB6103-920
Release Date: Holiday 2024
Price: $200 USD

Sophia’s very own Sabrina 2 weaves in all the things that bring her comfort in life.
Sophia’s community rallied around her bone cancer diagnosis with “Sophia Strong” shirts, with the font on that shirt emulated on the left and right heel.
The fuzzy blanket Sophia loves most was recreated on the collar.
Appearing on the vamp is Sophia’s unique heart-adorned pickle stuffie.
Some of Sophia’s favorite stickers were replicated on the midsole.
This happy-go-lucky Sabrina 2 features a striking glow-in-the-dark outsole.
Sophia loves crafting friendship bracelets for her loved ones, and you can too with a DIY kit included with her Sabrina 2.

Tima Sviridenko

Age: 11
Diagnosis
: X-linked lymphoproliferation Disease 1 (XLP1)
Shoe
: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41

Tima Sviridenko’s feline-inspired design features his cat, Murka, playfully hanging off the lateral Swoosh, as well as a patch of his beloved cat stuffie and a one-of-a-kind paw pad outsole. Tima was born with an extremely rare immune system disorder, but a bone marrow transplant aided his immune system so he can realize his dream of designing a robotic cat someday.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41 by Tima Sviridenko
Style Code: IB6096-920
Release Date: Holiday 2024
Price: $130 USD

Tima’s feline-forward Pegasus 41 utilizes tropical colors as a nod to his bone marrow donor, who lives in Florida.
Tima’s family cat, Murka appears on the lateral Swoosh as a reminder to hang in there.
Per request from Tima, the Pegasus 41 outsole was altered to leave cat paw prints on dry land after stepping in water.
Tima’s favorite cat stuffie, Murzik, shows up as a lace-hanging patch.
Dreams that Tima wants to accomplish include making a real robot cat and visiting Aoshima, Japan — also known as cat island.
The subtle red paw prints that wrap the upper will glow in the dark when the lights go out.
March 4th was the date of Tima’s bone marrow transplant, when his family felt they could finally March Forth. Tima’s name appears alongside his donor’s, Dylan, on the lace tips.

Connor Kassing Fernández

Age: 14
Diagnosis
: Low Grade Glioma
Shoe: 
Nike Air Max DN

Paso a paso, step by step. That’s how Connor Kassing Fernández approaches his life’s biggest challenges, like undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for his brain tumor. His personal motto can be found in English and Spanish on the Air bubble of his Nike Air Max DN silhouette, complementing descriptions of some of his favorite things (sunrises and quesadillas made the list). The music notes on the shoe’s upper are also drawn from an original piano duet Connor wrote with his big sister, Tess.

Nike Air Max DN by Connor Kassing Fernández
Style Code: IB6063-920
Release Date: Holiday 2024
Price: $170 USD

Connor initially color-designed 17 different versions of the Air Max DN on his tablet before deciding on this black and gold iteration.
The musical notes on the upper replicate a song composition Connor wrote with his sister. The notes on the right and left shoes mirror the right and left hands on the piano.
Connor’s family took things “Step by Step” when it came to dealing with his brain tumor surgery. Connor’s roots in Spain are noted with the translated “Paso a Paso” on the outsoles and Air bubbles.
Connor implemented words throughout the upper that represent the hardships and joys of his life.
Outside of music, Connor enjoys playing with his building blocks, represented by his gold lace lock.
The fractal pattern on the upper is a variation of the Zentangles Connor doodles to relax.
Connor’s love of music is featured on his very own Air Max DN logo.

Quin Nims

Age: 10
Diagnosis: 
Anorectal malformation
Shoe: 
Nike Air Max SNDR

Quin Nims wants others to know that while she may be tiny, she’s also strong. Not only does she fearlessly ascend climbing walls, but she also endured multiple surgeries to correct a rare defect of her bladder and gastrointestinal system. Quin describes the colorful print on her Air Max SNDR as “splashes of joy and power,” while the spiky mudguard is a nod to her love of dragons. As for the laces, they’re just as sparkly as her personality.

Nike Air Max SNDR by Quin Nims
Style Code: IB6068-920
Release Date: Holiday 2024
Price: $185 USD

Quin’s very own Air Max SNDR is described by her as the “happiest shoes that I can think of.”
When choosing the splatter print on the upper, Quin described them as “splashes of joy and power,” which is how she felt after bladder surgery helped improve her quality of life.
The modified Air Max SNDR mudguard evokes the spikes on the spine of dragons, a creature Quin wrote a book about in school.
Unzip the upper and you see Quin’s name among surprise sparkles. Behind the tongue is her mantra, “Tiny but Strong.”
Look closely at the mudguard and you’ll see a dragon scale print similar to her favorite movie character.
Quin’s “splashes of joy and power” extend to the speckled Air bubble.
Teal, orange and purple are Quin’s favorite colors — and match the clothes she wears most.

Ja’Kai Taylor

Age: 9
Diagnosis: 
Type 1 diabetes
Shoe: 
Nike Air 180

Ja’Kai Taylor is an outgoing, active kid who loves gaming, playing soccer and filming TikTok videos about living with type 1 diabetes. That high-energy personality is captured in his Air 180, which features reflective lightning bolts, a glow-in-the-dark outsole and a bubbly Swoosh. Included with the shoes are soccer crests inspired by the decorative patches that overlay Ja’Kai’s continuous glucose monitor — a device that keeps him charged up to get the W.

Nike Air 180 by Ja’Kai Taylor
Style Code: IB6070-920
Release Date: Holiday 2024
Price: $160 USD

Ja’Kai brought the competitive energy on his very own Nike Air 180, inspired by his love of soccer and video games.
T1D appears on the tongue to bring inspiration to other children with type 1 diabetes.
The heels of the shoes mimic the back of a soccer kit, including his jersey number 30.
Reflective lightning bolts symbolize the electronic continuous glucose monitoring device attached to his arm.
Ja’Kai’s love of juice boxes inspired the bubbly Swooshes on the medial and lateral sides of the shoes.
Ja’Kai’s favorite color, blue, powers an outsole that glows in the dark after being charged up in light.
The blue-to-green gradient evokes the color palette of power-ups seen in video games.

Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 20 Tech Fleece Hoodie
Release Date: Holiday 2024

Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 20 Footwear Packaging

Air Jordan XX “Doernbecher Freestyle”
Release Date: October 30, 2024 (Sotheby’s Auction)

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