New Doernbecher Freestyle Collection celebrates 20 years of empowering kids through design

18 October 2024

What to know

Doernbecher Freestyle is a unique partnership between NIKE, Inc. and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children's Hospital that began in 2004 and has raised $37 million for the hospital since its inception.
Each year, the programme provides six Doernbecher patients with the opportunity to create inspiring footwear designs that are auctioned and sold to benefit the hospital as a signature fundraiser.
The Doernbecher Freestyle 20 Collection features six silhouettes re-envisioned by Doernbecher patient-designers and a Nike Tech Fleece hoodie that includes elements from each of the kids' footwear designs.
To celebrate 20 years of partnership and the 122 kids who have designed footwear for the programme, a numbered run of special Doernbecher Air Jordan XX sneakers will also be auctioned to benefit the hospital.
The rest of the collection will be available globally on SNKRS, Nike.com and at select retailers this winter.

NIKE, Inc. is marking two decades of partnership with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children's Hospital by unveiling its 20th Doernbecher Freestyle Collection of footwear silhouettes reimagined by courageous patient-designers.

The six striking styles, created through a unique partnership between Doernbecher patients and Nike volunteer product experts, will be auctioned and sold to benefit the hospital as part of a signature fundraiser that has raised $37 million since 2004. All profits go to the OHSU Foundation, benefiting Doernbecher, to help fund the cost of care for families in need, support specialised treatment unavailable elsewhere in the region and expand pioneering research that benefits kids around the world.

Among this year's six Doernbecher Freestyle designers are young athletes who love basketball, football and other forms of play, as well as kids who are passionate about dragons, cats and creating music. They've channelled those interests into inspiring footwear styles adorned with intricate details, hidden messages and unexpected colour palettes that also reflect the life experiences, medical journeys and relationships that have shaped their lives.

In a new touch for this year's collection, each of the silhouettes will come packaged in a custom, split-open box that reveals the design with a splash. A Nike Tech Fleece hoodie that incorporates elements from each of the patient-designers' shoes is also included in the collection.

In addition, a limited run of specially designed Doernbecher Air Jordan XX sneakers, featuring a tapestry of laser graphics celebrating the collection's two decades and 122 patient-designers, will be available at auction. Twenty numbered pairs of the Air Jordan XX 'Doernbecher Freestyle' will be exclusively offered at Sotheby's, with all proceeds benefiting Doernbecher. Each pair will be accompanied by a T-shirt and Nike Tech Fleece bomber jacket featuring the special-edition laser print. The online auction will open for bidding 21 October and close 30 October at noon EST. Bidding for each pair will start at $1. More information can be found at sothebys.com.

The rest of the collection will be available globally on SNKRS and at select retailers this winter.

Learn more about this year's patient-designers and their footwear silhouettes—an Air Jordan 6 Retro, Nike Sabrina 2, Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 41, Nike Air Max Dn, Nike Air Max SNDR and Nike Air 180—in the galleries below.