Nike Doernbecher Freestyle Air Jordan 13 Retro

Via Nike
Oct 23, 2015
2 min read

For over a decade, the Nike and OSHU Doernbecher Freestyle Collection has given kids in Doernbecher Children’s Hospital the chance to create the sneaker of their dreams, helping to raise funds, awareness and the spirits of fellow patients.

Twelve years later, the Freestyle Collection has raised over $11 million to help expand the hospital’s pioneering research, support clinical care, purchase state-of-the-art equipment, recruit new experts and subsidize the cost of care for families in need.

Whether it’s Nike’s designers, developers and graphic artists travelling to OHSU Doernbecher to meet their new team members or Doernbecher kids sharing their ideas at Nike HQ, the collaboration is a meaningful exchange of skills, experience and creativity, led by six brave young kids who inspire the world with their stories.

John plays soccer, does gymnastics and wrestles. He can also raise one eyebrow. And, since his diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, he’s discovered that he can add “able to swallow seven pills at once” to his impressive list of talents.

Designing his signature AIR JORDAN XIII RETRO was a chance for John to share his unique skills with the world. His sneaker features his soccer number, a cartoon kid with a raised brow and those seven pills to represent the medicine he takes to manage the disease.

However, as his sneaker goes to show, John’s life is much bigger than Crohn’s. His twin brother, Jonah, makes an appearance on the sockliner, as does his beloved German shepherd, Teagan, and an Egyptian pyramid. “If I could travel anywhere in the world, that’s where I’d want to go,” John explains. Even his favorite foods get a shout-out: Look closely at the lace tips, and you’ll see the words CHICKEN AND JO-JOS.

One of the most powerful features of John’s sneaker is also the one that’s hardest to spot. Flip the shoe over and you’ll see the word “Crohn’s” on the outsole. “When I’m walking, I want to literally stomp out the disease with every step,” John declares. Right behind this statement, the words COURAGE, STRENGTH and FIGHT surround the midsole, backing John’s every stride against his illness.