UPDATE 1/6/26: The Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 21 Collection is set to release January 17, 2026 via SNKRS and select retailers.

Original Story 10/17/25:
Nike and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital continue their inspiring annual partnership with the 21st Doernbecher Freestyle Collection, a heartfelt program that’s raised more than $40 million since 2004.

Six young patients collaborate with Nike designers each year to help interpret their personal experiences and translate them into exclusive sneakers and clothing. The six silhouettes created this year are Air Jordan 17, Air Max Plus, Air Force 1 ‘07, V2K Run, Vomero Plus, and Air Max Dn8 as well as two pieces of apparel: a cardigan and tees. Each design is a colorful explosion representing strength, creativity and hope.

One personal favorite, the Air Jordan 17 “Zach Rumbaugh”, is mechanical inspired, telling the story of Zach’s survival from cardiac arrest, and “integrates chrome hardware, glow-soles and a graphic heart emblem that promotes CPR awareness.” Inspired by the video-game medium and the liberating spirit of mismatched color blocking, Sergio Cano Marquez’ Air Max Plus presents creativity as a means of bravery. Other sneakers, such as Oli’s cooking-inspired Air Force 1 and Raegan Scheid’s ocean-deep inspiration for her Air Max Dn8, are all just as intimate.

For nine months, Nike volunteers work 1-on-1 with each child to fine-tune every color, texture, and story. To date, over 350 Nike employees have lent their skills to this project — inspired by design with a higher purpose.

Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 21 Release Date

The Nike Doernbecher Freestyle 21 Collection debuts at a Portland auction on October 17, 2025, followed by a global release January 17, 2026 on SNKRS and select retailers.

This isn’t just another sneaker release. It’s a testament to the healing power of creativity, to the ability of imagination to lift people up and unite entire communities.

Stay up to date with all upcoming Air Jordan releases from our Air Jordan Release Dates page. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

The Air Jordan 17 “Zach Rumbaugh” has a winning combination of mechanical inspiration and a moving survival story. The sneaker is by Zach, an active teen who loves working on cars and bikes. After he survived sudden cardiac arrest, he combined his love of engineering and machines with his own personal story to create his Air Jordan 17.

The details include chrome and bolts inspired by Michael Jordan’s motorcycle, hexagon eyelets to represent his dream of becoming a mechanic, and the number 38 to remember the 38 days he spent recovering in the hospital. A heart emblem on the lace toggle raises awareness of CPR in honor of the medical team that saved his life.

Luxurious details include a suede collar that he likens to the interior of a luxury car, a color-shifting purple upper that’s similar to a custom wrap, and glow in the dark soles that he compared to heated exhausts. He also sneaked a graphic of his love for cats into the toe box. The powerful sneaker is a tribute to resilience, gratitude, and moving forward.

Inspired by creativity, individuality and all things fun, the Nike Air Max Plus “Sergio” is a playfully day-and-night silhouette. A video game fan who also loves drawing and basketball, Sergio crafted his mismatched pair with colorful character. The black shoe showcases his passion for gaming, with a controller graphic and colorful button-like holes on the outsole. His other sneaker is white and features monster lizards eating pizza with New York’s skyline in the background.

Detailing on both sneakers are equally as fun, with basketball-textured tongues, a pixelated “Sergio” heel logo and glow-in-the-dark mismatched outsoles, a playful take that channels Sergio’s energy. Even his sock liner has a motif – pizza, a reference to the superhero’s favorite food.

With a positive spirit and a rare genetic condition, Sergio designed his own Air Max Plus to celebrate everyone’s uniqueness. His colorful creation shows that being different isn’t just okay, it’s super cool.

The Nike Air Force 1 “Oli” is brimming with creativity, bravery and gastronomic inspiration. Oli is an aspiring chef, who had a passion for cooking before he had to put those dreams on hold for a while, during his treatment for cancer. The Air Force 1 “Oli” is a special pair that was hand-crafted to symbolize and celebrate his culinary interests and courage. Olive branches adorn the Swoosh, vegetable gardens line the insole and little utensils are tucked into the design.

Rainbows were drawn on a whiteboard throughout treatment to help Oli express feelings of hope and they now feature on the outsole to help continue to inspire and uplift others. Little embellishments including heel tabs, crafted to mimic the texture of the olive tree that grows in the backyard of his family home, hidden patches containing his favorite recipes for veggie tacos and African yam stew, and customizable patches with his family’s initials on each pair, make the AF1 “Oli” a truly unique sneaker.

A poignant reminder that one can overcome any obstacle and channel those emotions into creativity, this walking feast represents Oli’s story of resilience and positivity – from walking over 572 hospital laps in his Air Force 1s during his treatment, to designing his own custom pair.

The Nike V2K Run “Khovny” honors the imagination and bravery of one particularly compelling young designer. The name is a tribute to the doctors that saved her life as a baby, Stephanie and Dmitry Dukhovny. Khovny, whose first name is pronounced like “snow,” filled her shoe with playful details to channel her creativity. A light up bear, miniature version of her stuffed monkey Pinky Doo Doo, and a snake charm for her dream pet all make an appearance in the design.

Detachable friendship bracelets pay tribute to her late brother Ryan and their enduring bond. Glitter, soft fur, and colorful embellishments reflect Khovny’s artistic spirit and love of music. Glow in the dark, mismatched soles keep her mischievous spirit alive, even in the dark. The result is a wonderfully personal, one-of-a-kind sneaker with an unforgettable story.

Inspired by the natural world and wanderlust, the Nike Vomero Plus “Molly Bell” sneaker is a love letter to Oregon’s landscapes. Molly Bell is a teen with a field biologist aspiration, and for her design, she applied images of the Pacific Northwest flora and fauna. The upper of the Vomero is speckled with the bloom of camas flowers, native to Oregon. The reflective, lenticular forest-print Swoosh and dirt-inspired outsole feature a fawn hoof graphic as a nod to Molly’s time spent in the great outdoors.

Embedded with significance to Molly and her family, who are active advocates for the autism community, is a quote from Robin Wall Kimmerer, an author and botanist. Her words, “The most important thing each of us can know is our unique gift and how to use it in the world,” were featured in Molly’s field journal. Floral embroidery and animal prints on the Vomero Plus “Molly Bell,” as well as the earthy green and soft pink color scheme, emphasize her reverence for the natural world and self-expression.

This Nike Air Max Dn8 “Raegan Scheid” is a tribute to strength, perseverance and passion. After a battle back from open heart surgery, Raegan wanted to combine her two loves, softball and the beach to create the perfect empowering sneaker. Inspired by the reflective softball graphics on the upper and stitching all over the Air bubbles and heart logo on the tongue.

Decorated with ocean waves across the midsole, this shoe also serves as a reminder for the most important place in the world to Raegan – the beach. Raegan’s golden retriever, Blue, is featured on a keychain on the heel tab, while her mantra “I CAN DO HARD THINGS” reminds others to stay strong.

Celebrating the day Raegan returned to her field on May 11, 2024, Raegan’s Air Max Dn8 is a tribute to strength, creativity and come back mentality.