Nike Presents the Doernbecher Freestyle 21 Collection
Six creative sneakers have been designed by six inspiring Doernbecher patients.
Nike and the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have worked together closely for over two decades. The partners have a unique relationship, pairing courageous Doernbecher Children’s Hospital patients with volunteer product experts from Nike to create special sneakers. 128 patient-designers have collaborated with over 350 volunteers to date, with cohorts assembling creative pairs over the course of nine months. These designs are the centerpiece of a charity auction, and are then brought to the masses later on. The profits generated from this go to the OHSU Foundation, benefitting Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Over $40 million USD have been raised since 2004, helping “fund the cost of care for families in need, support specialized treatment unavailable elsewhere in the region, and expand pioneering research that helps benefit kids around the world,” according to Nike.
The Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 21 Collection has just officially been revealed, with six patient-designers presenting their six sneakers. This year’s lineup includes the V2K Run, Vomero Plus, Air Force 1 ’07, Air Max Dn8, Air Max Plus, and Air Jordan 17. In addition to the footwear, two exclusive apparel items have been prepared with elements that nod to each shoe and their patient-designer. First, a black Club Fairway Cardigan in men’s sizing is adorned with white and blue thematic artwork. A tee in men’s and kids’ sizing has also been created, featuring similar artwork throughout. A charity auction featuring the Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 21 Collection is being held in Portland tonight, October 17. The range will then launch via Nike SNKRS and select retail locations this winter.
Nike V2K Run by Khovny Vignery
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Kicking off the Doernbecher Freestyle 21 class is nine-year-old Khovny Vignery. She’s named after Stephanie and Dmitry Dukhovny, the two doctors that were able to save her life as a baby. Powering through a preterm birth and congenital chylothorax, Khovny loves drawing, dancing, and snakes, all of which inspired her vibrant rendition of the V2K Run. Glitter and fur combine with a mismatched pink and blue color scheme that nods to one of her favorite musician’s album covers. Glow-in-the-dark outsoles are also a fitting element, reflecting her lively personality. Ornamental detailing gives each shoe its own spark, with her putting a pink snake on her shoe since her parents won’t let her get one as a pet. It joins Pinky Doo Doo, her stuffed monkey that has been recreated, as well as a drawing of Papa Bear, her favorite stuffy, which lights up. Butterflies are present at the heel, resting just above the detachable friendship bracelet that honors the memory of her brother Ryan, who dealt with the same rare condition.
Nike Vomero Plus by Molly Bell
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Molly Bell is a girl with a plan. The 14-year-old is all about nature, with her sights set on a career in field biology. Her sneaker with Nike, a Vomero Plus, highlights her love for nature. The camas flower, which is common throughout her home state of Oregon, is embroidered across the upper. Its joins other nature-related notes, including a lenticular forest print at the medial Swoosh. Molly’s resourcefulness came in handy when it came time to select a midsole color. It is speckled in brown, hiding any dirt while also complementing the upper’s camas flowers that “bloom” from it. A fawn hoof can be spotted at the outsole, serving as a signal of friendliness to deer. Final touches to the kicks range from a furry animal-inspired print at the tongue to her own floral logo located at the sockliner. A field guide also accompanies each pair of the shoes, encouraging others to explore too. Diagnosed with autism, Molly included a quote within the guide from her favorite author, Robin Wall Kimmerer: “The most important thing each of us can know is our unique gift and how to use it in the world.”
Nike Air Force 1 ‘07 by Oli Fasone-Lancaster
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Next up is Oli Fasone-Lancaster, a 10-year-old who has served up his flavorful take on the Air Force 1 ‘07. This young chef incorporated many of his favorite ingredients into his sneaker. These range from a garden of vegetables at the midsole to olive branches embossed on the Swooshes. A mini set of utensils accompany the many foods, resting neatly at the lateral Swoosh. Meanwhile, the heel tabs are textured as an homage to the olive tree planted in Oli’s backyard when he was born. Another personal detail is the tongue dubrae, which reads “572.” This resembles the 572 loops around the Doernbecher oncology inpatient unit that are required to walk the equivalent of a marathon. Oli walked all 572 loops between cancer treatments for T-cell lymphoma in none other than the Air Force 1. Behind each tongue is one of the cook’s signature dishes: veggie tacos and African yam stew. The heel hosts interchangeable patches that represent his family initials, personal symbols, and the sports he now enjoys since overcoming cancer. Completing the sneaker is a semi-translucent rainbow outsole. Oli frequently drew rainbows for friends, family, and his medical staff while undergoing treatment, labeling them as a symbol of both hope and positivity.
Nike Air Max Dn8 by Raegan Scheid
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At the age of 13, Raegan Scheid’s second home is the softball field. So when it came time to design her own take on the Air Max Dn8, the sport had to be a focal point of it. The pink shoe’s upper features subtle softball iconography, from fields to gloves. That’s not all — the eight Air bubbles on each side of the shoe sport softball stitching printed atop them. Another place that puts a smile on Raegan’s face is the beach, which is represented by the midsole’s waves. She also created her own heart logo that is depicted at the tongue and nods to the congenital heart condition that she overcame. Another special logo is situated at the heel — a custom Air Max logo with Raegan’s name on it. Two keychains come with the shoe. The first represents her golden retriever, Blue, whereas the second emphasizes “5/11/24,” the first day she could play softball after undergoing open-heart surgery. Rounding out the pair is a sockliner graphic with the phrase that helped her overcome challenging times: “I CAN DO HARD THINGS.”
Nike Air Max Plus by Sergio Cano Marquez
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Sergio Cano Marquez, as an 11-year-old with MPS IVA, embraces his differences and designed his Air Max Plus for those who feel the same. The right shoe dons a nighttime theme in black while the left favors a daytime look in white. Looking closer at the nighttime rendition, it is dedicated to two of Sergio’s favorite things: video games and drawing. Graphics cover the shoe, as is the case with its white counterpart, and a “Gamer” callout rests atop the pizza-themed sockliner that nods to his favorite food. Swapping over to the left shoe, it sets the scene of monster lizards enjoying a pizza party against a beautiful New York skyline. Both shoes’ tongue features a basketball texture and a lenticular graphic that nods to his name with an “S” doodle. Each shoe is backed by a glow-in-the-dark outsole with button-inspired geometry that resembles his favorite gaming controller. Looking to the heel, Sergio’s name is spelled out in an 8-bit-style font.
Air Jordan 17 by Zach Rumbaugh
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When it comes to mechanical vehicles, Zach Rumbaugh is all over it. The 18-year-old loves fixing bikes and cars, both of which inform his sleek Air Jordan 17. An iridescent purple upper kicks things off, offering a nod to custom car wraps. The suede collar similarly looks to cars for inspiration, specifically the interior of luxury ones. Continuing the theme, the color-shifting heel clip reminds him of burnt titanium exhaust tips. Hexagon-shaped eyelets were implemented to represent his career goal of becoming a mechanic. Completing the lengthy list of vehicle references is the glow-in-the-dark outsole, which nods to engine headers glowing under hot temperatures. While Zach’s luxe design may reflect his maturity as the oldest of this Doernbecher Freestyle cohort, he included his own playful touches, like the cat graphic at the toe box that celebrates his love of cats. As someone diagnosed with CPVT, having his his heart stop after jumping into a pool, he made sure to include a lace toggle that symbolizes CPR awareness. The number 38 is visible atop it, as well as on the hangtag and heel, representing the amount of days he spent recovering from sudden cardiac arrest at the hospital.
