Nike and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Ore. are proud to celebrate the 10th year of the Doernbecher Freestyle Program, a unique collaboration that has empowered 58 young patients through design and raised more than $6 million for the hospital to help expand pioneering research, support clinical care, purchase state-of-the-art equipment, recruit new experts and help cover the cost of care for families most in need.
The partnership between Nike and OHSU Doernbecher began in 2004, inspired by a conversation that Nike Global Creative Presentation Director Michael Doherty, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Doernbecher Foundation, had with his son about a way to raise awareness and funds for the hospital. The idea became for patients to design one-of-a-kind shoes, with proceeds to benefit the hospital.
Beginning that first year and every year since, the Doernbecher Freestyle Project has brought together a group of OHSU Doernbecher patients with Nike designers and developers to create shoes that are truly unique to each patient. It’s a collaboration, but with the patients at the center of the design process—deciding the colors, materials and details for each shoe to reflect their individual personalities and life experiences.
The 2013 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection will include apparel and footwear. The Limited Edition Doernbecher Collection will be sold at www.nike.com and at Nike retail locations across the country later this fall with all proceeds from sales of the collection benefitting OHSU Doernbecher.
In honor of the 10th anniversary, Nike Global Product Creative Director and long-time Doernbecher Freestyle designer Mark Smith also created the Nike Dunk High 10th Anniversary Collection, celebrating all of the patients involved with the program over the last 10 years by featuring their names and glow-in-the-dark elements to symbolize their strength and spirit. Two sets of the collection will be auctioned off at special events in Portland and New York City to benefit the hospital.
Nike Doernbecher 2013 Collection Release Date: November 23rd, 2013
Air Jordan 10 Retro
Black/Gym Red
636214-066
$170
Nike Air Foamposite One
Challenge Red/Black
641745-600
$250
Nike Dunk Sky Hi
Black/Black-Gym Red-White
639396-061
$120
Nike Roshe Run
Black/Fortress Green-Metallic Silver
638960-030
$75
Nike Free Run 5.0 (Jake Dering)
Wolf Grey/Total Crimson-Grand Purple
639873-065
$100
Nike Free Run 5.0 (Bella Stone)
Hyper Pink/Hyper Turq-Metallic Gold
640936-648
$100
Nike Zoom Stefan Janoski
Black/Bright Grape-Wolf Grey-Hyper Grape-Gamma Green
642180-053
$90
Daniel Pena, 12
Air Jordan Retro 10
Daniel is a huge Michael Jordan fan, with an encyclopedic knowledge of every game, every comeback, and every shoe released throughout Jordan’s illustrious career. So when it was confirmed that he’d be designing a Jordan shoe for the collection, Daniel said, “I kind of freaked out.” Like Jordan, Daniel has reinvented himself as an athlete again and again. Because his hemophilia causes problems in his ankle, he frequently changes up his sports so that he can continue to compete. Daniel’s shoe, the Nike Air Jordan Retro 10 is also a story of reinvention. It features a slew of first-ever features, like a modified logo that’s customized just for Daniel. It’s also the first time you’ll ever see a clear outsole on the Jordan Retro 10. The stealthy upper sports a glossy camo print that’s inspired by Daniel’s love of video games. And in a nod to his days riding the BMX circuit, a tire tread races down the heel and straight into the sockliner.
