Words by Comfort Nnana Kalu
Since 2003, Nike has collaborated with the OHSU Doernbecher Foundation. Conner Doherty, who is the son of Nike’s Creative Director and OHSU Doernbecher Foundation Board Member Michael Doherty formalized the collaboration. The program allows the hospital’s youngest residents to be the creative masterminds behind their own Nike sneakers over the span of 8 months. The collaboration has spawned 85 patient designers and helped raise $17 million for the hospital towards funding treatment, research, and family assistance.
The collection has featured six sneakers and is revealed through a live auction that fosters the best environment to introduce the designers, as it helps raise money by selling the shoes. Last year’s auction alone was able to raise 1.2 million, and the foundation hopes to raise even more money this year. One pair of AIR Jordan VIII‘s that were designed by Damien Phillips and signed by Michael Jordan sold for last year for $46,000 alone.
This year, the lineup of sneakers and patient designers include the Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski by Tylan Hibbard, Air Vapormax Flyknit by Andrew Merydith, the Air More Tempo by Brody Miller, the Air Jordan 12 Retro by Carrissa Nevarro, The Air Max Thea Ultra Flyknit by Amiiyah Robinson and the Huarache Run Ultra by Brayden Sparkman. The 2017 Doernbecher Freestyle collection will be available on Nov. 18, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Doernbecher Foundation. Adult and youth sizes will be available at SNKRS and the full apparel collection will be available at select Nike locations.
