Shop the Nike X Doernbecher Holiday Collection

It’s time to unveil the 2012 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection, featuring six unique shoes designed by six inspiring patients of Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, one of the top pediatric care facilities in the nation. The Doernbecher Freestyle Project, now in its ninth year, partners Nike designers and developers with OHSU Doernbecher patients who have struggled with serious illnesses to create a shoe unique to them.

First up is the Doernbecher Nike Dunk Hi SB, designed by ten-year-old Finnigan Mooney. Finnigan was born with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome and has endured over 13 heart surgeries in his lifetime. Finnigan’s design features a striking yellow upper representative of his sunny personality, with “THUMP THUMP” emblazoned on it to pay homage to his unstoppable heart. Medical stitches affix the Nike Swoosh and a shamrock representing his Irish heritage is featured on the tongue. Finnegan’s actual thumbprint is on the outsole of the shoe, representing the thumbs-up Finnegan has always given his parents when coming out of surgery.

Price: GS $100 Men’s $115

Sizes available: GS 3.5-7y Men’s 7-12, 13, 14, 15

Limit 1 per customer

Next up is 16-year-old Kylie Bell. Kylie, who is recovering from a brain tumor, put her personal touch on the Nike Free Run+ 2 DB Women’s Shoe. A passionate dancer, Kylie’s design features lace panels that match the lace on one of her favorite shirts. A bird on the tongue represents freedom, and the words “freedom” and “strength” appear on the shoelaces and the inside of the shoe. The sockliner features Kylie’s signature, and berry—her favorite color—makes these shoes stand out as much as she does.

Price: GS $75 Women’s $100

Sizes available: GS 3.5-7y Women’s 5-10, 11, 12

Limit 2 per customer

Another Doernbecher designer is 15-year-old Chad Berg, who tumbled out of his kayak last January and spent 90 minutes in the freezing, icy water. When he was rescued, his internal temperature had plummeted and he was in full cardiac arrest with no pulse. After almost three hours of CPR, he was transferred to Doernbecher and put on a machine that could do the work for his heart and lungs while he recovered. Chad miraculously bounced back in two weeks with no neurological damage. His Nike Air Force 1 DB design pays tribute to the Oregon Ducks, his favorite college team, with green accents, carbon fiber panels and a striking glow-in-the-dark outsole.

Price: GS $90 Men’s $125

Sizes available: GS 3.5-7y Men’s 7-13, 14, 15

Limit 2 per customer

Ten-year-old Autumn Boynton, who designed the Nike Air Max 90 DB Women’s Shoe, is a fighter. She was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2005, with bi-lateral Wilms’ tumors in her kidneys and abdomen. She eventually underwent emergency surgery to remove both her kidneys, and after 3.5 years of regular dialysis her father was able to give her a kidney.  Autumn’s shoe features black and pink, her favorite colors, along with stars and peace signs inspired by her rock-star aspirations. Her personality also comes through in the sparkles on the Swoosh and bubbles on the shoelaces.

Price: GS $78 Women’s $100

Sizes available: GS 3.5-7y Women’s 6-11

Limit 2 per customer

Our next designer, Oswaldo Jimenez, was diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension last December. As a result, this 11-year-old now has to be very cautious about exerting energy. He drew inspiration for his design of the Air Jordan 9 Retro DB from his Mexican heritage. His nickname, “Pollito,” is lasered in a feather pattern on the sockliner and is also featured on the tongue. His favorite number, 17, is on the back heel, while his birthday, September 13, is on the inside of the tongue. The red and green outsole pays homage to Oswaldo’s hometown of Queretaro, Mexico.

Access to the Nike.com launch of  Oswaldo’s Jordan 9 will be available via Twitter link only.  Follow @NikeStore on Twitter 

Check out our Product Launch FAQ for tips on how to score a pair of your favorite Doernbecher shoe.

Price: GS $120 Men’s $175

Sizes available: GS 3.5-7y Men’s 8-13, 14, 15

Limit 1 per customer

The sixth designer is eleven-year-old Grant Olsen. When Grant was six, his parents found a lump in his neck that resulted in a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He’s doing much better now, and has lent his unique touch to the Nike Free Run+ 2 DB Men’s Shoe. His design features his personal logo, a lizard (one of his favorite animals), an electric guitar, his initials, and the words “Do not fear or be dismayed.” His love of outer space is represented on the shoe with glow-in-the-dark space speckles, and the colors of his shoe come from a photo of an exotic bird he saw in a design book.

Price: GS $75 Men’s $115

Sizes available: GS 3.5-7y Men’s 7-13, 14, 15

Limit 2 per customer

The Limited Edition Dorenbecher Nike+ FuelBand completes the 2012 Holiday Collection.  This Nike+ FuelBand features cyan blue accents on the clasp and the interior of the band. It will only be available at NIKETOWN New York, 21 Mercer, Nike Portland, and Nike.com for $179.

Show your support for this leading hospital and an inspiring group of kids when the Limited Edition Doernbecher Collection goes on sale November 30. All proceeds from sales of the Doernbecher Collection will benefit OHSU Doernbecher.