For the past twenty years, Nike has teamed up with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital through the incredible Doernbecher Freestyle initiative, raising an impressive $37 million for the hospital. Since its launch in 2004, this amazing program allows young patients at Doernbecher to unleash their creativity by designing one-of-a-kind footwear, which is then sold to support the hospital.
The Doernbecher Freestyle 20 Collection marks an exciting milestone, celebrating two decades of this amazing partnership. For 2024, we’ve got six fresh designs crafted by the talented Doernbecher patient-designers, each sharing their unique stories and inspirations through their footwear. This year's lineup features the Air Jordan 6, Nike Sabrina 2, Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41, Nike Air Max Dn, Nike Air Max SNDR, and Nike Air 180. Plus, there’s a Nike Tech Fleece hoodie included in the collection, showcasing elements from each designer’s shoe.
Jillian Beagley : Air Jordan 6 "Doernbecher"
Jillian Beagley, who received a liver transplant, has turned her appreciation for life and passion for sports into a unique design for the Air Jordan 6. After being diagnosed with a serious liver disease as a baby and undergoing a transplant at 11, she’s now a vibrant teenager who has even clinched a state basketball title. Her Air Jordan 6 design is truly one-of-a-kind, featuring interchangeable patches, customizable toe boxes, and her personal mantra, “SPORTS ARE MY JOY,” written in her own handwriting. The shoe also showcases Jillian’s belief that everyone shines as “Pure Gold” when they embrace their true selves. Plus, “Give Life” is beautifully embroidered on the toe, paying tribute to her donor and the incredible second chance at life she’s been given.
Sophia Jenkins : Nike Sabrina 2 "Doernbecher"
Sophie Jenkins is an incredibly resilient young girl who, after losing part of her right leg to bone cancer, became a parasport athlete. She even taught herself how to do a one-legged backflip! Her Sabrina 2 shoes are a true reflection of her vibrant personality and her favorite things, like her pickle-shaped stuffed toy, floral stickers, and her cozy pink fuzzy blanket. The design beautifully incorporates elements from her life, showcasing the “Sophia Strong” font, her favorite blanket on the collar, and fun stickers on the midsole. Plus, these shoes have a glow-in-the
Tima Sviridenko : Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41 "Doernbecher"
Tima Sviridenko’s Pegasus 41 design has some fun nods to his cat, Murka, featuring the little guy hanging from the side Swoosh and a cool cat paw print outsole that leaves marks on dry ground after getting wet. The shoe is inspired by his bone marrow donor from Florida and showcases vibrant tropical colors. Tima, who was born with a rare immune disorder and had a life-saving transplant, has big dreams of creating a robotic cat and visiting Japan’s famous “cat island.” Some unique touches include glow-in-the-dark red paw prints, a patch for his favorite cat toy hanging from the laces, and both his name and his donor’s on the lace tips.
Connor Kassing Fernandez : Nike Air Max Dn "Doernbecher"
Connor Kassing Fernández has overcome some tough challenges, including brain tumor surgery and chemotherapy. He lives by the motto “Paso a paso,” which means “Step by step,” and you can see it in both English and Spanish on the Air bubble of his custom Nike Air Max DN design. The shoes are a celebration of his favorite things—think beautiful sunrises and delicious quesadillas. Plus, they feature musical notes from a piano duet he created with his sister Tess. After trying out 17 different designs, Connor settled on a sleek black and gold colorway. The shoes also showcase his passion for building blocks and doodling, with a gold lace lock and cool fractal patterns on the upper.
Quin Nims : Nike Air Max SNDR "Doernbecher"
Quin Nims is a young climber who has bravely gone through several surgeries to fix a rare bladder and gastrointestinal issue. She’s created her own vibrant version of the Air Max SNDR, and she calls the shoe’s splatter print “splashes of joy and power,” representing her incredible strength and journey to recovery. The spiky mudguard takes inspiration from her fascination with dragons, which she loved to write about in school. The laces shine just like her lively personality, and there are hidden touches throughout the shoe, like her name and her empowering motto, “Tiny but Strong.” The colors she chose—teal, orange, and purple—perfectly capture her favorite shades and everyday vibe.
Ja'Kai Taylor : Nike Air 180 "Doernbecher"
Ja’Kai Taylor is an energetic and lively kid who loves gaming, playing soccer, and making TikTok videos about his experiences living with type 1 diabetes. He’s put his creative touch on a pair of Nike Air 180s, and the design really reflects his fun personality. With cool features like reflective lightning bolts and glow-in-the-dark outsoles, plus a playful Swoosh, these shoes are definitely eye-catching. The design also includes soccer-themed crests that nod to the patches on Ja’Kai’s continuous glucose monitor, and “T1D” on the tongue serves as a motivational message for other kids managing diabetes. His favorite color, blue, lights up the glow-in-the-dark outsole, and the shoe’s gradient design is inspired by video game power-ups.
