New Doernbecher Freestyle Collection Celebrates 22 Years of Empowering Kids Through Design

What is Doernbecher Freestyle? Doernbecher Freestyle is a unique partnership between NIKE, Inc. and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital that has raised more than $44 million since 2004. How does it work? Each year, the program gives six OHSU Doernbecher patients the opportunity to work alongside Nike employee design volunteers to create inspiring footwear designs. The designs are auctioned and sold at retail, with 100 percent of profits benefiting the hospital. What’s new this year? All six silhouettes in the Doernbecher Freestyle 22 Collection are making their program debut, giving each patient-designer a fresh canvas to bring their story to life. When are they available? This year’s Doernbecher Freestyle footwear first became available at auction in Portland on October 16. The collection will launch in the U.S. on SNKRS and at select retail locations this winter.

NIKE, Inc. is celebrating 22 years of partnership with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital by debuting the 22nd Doernbecher Freestyle collection, reimagined by courageous patient-designers. The six striking styles, all making their Doernbecher Freestyle debut, were created through a unique partnership between Doernbecher patients and Nike volunteer product experts, who combined their design and development expertise with the kids’ limitless imaginations to create one-of-a-kind sneakers. The collection will be auctioned and sold to benefit the hospital as part of a signature fundraiser that has raised more than $44 million since 2004. All profits go to the OHSU Foundation, benefiting Doernbecher, to help fund the cost of care for families in need, support specialized treatment unavailable anywhere else in the region, and expand pioneering research that helps benefit kids around the world. Among this year’s six talented Doernbecher Freestyle patient-designers are young athletes who love basketball, baseball and cheerleading. The kids are also passionate about motocross, rodeo, anime, art and the great outdoors. They’ve channeled those interests into inspiring footwear styles adorned with intricate details, hidden messages and unexpected color palettes that also reflect the life experiences, medical journeys and relationships that have shaped their lives. Doernbecher Freestyle is important to the cultures of both Nike and OHSU Doernbecher, allowing doctors, nurses and hospital employees to join Nike designers and developers to make a difference in the lives of the patient-designers, their families and the hospital community. “For 22 years, Nike and OHSU Doernbecher have celebrated a powerful belief: All kids deserve the opportunity to reach their greatest potential in sport and in life,” says Vanessa Garcia-Brito, VP, Chief Impact Officer, NIKE, Inc. “Nike is creating a future of youth sport where every kid feels welcome, Doernbecher is providing lifesaving care to help patients thrive, and we proudly come together via the Doernbecher Freestyle program to put kids at the heart of one of Nike’s most beloved collaborations.”

The Doernbecher Freestyle program is among the most highly coveted volunteer experiences at Nike. Since 2024, nearly 370 employees from across NIKE, Inc. product creation have volunteered their time. Over a nine-month process, they review patient questionnaires and refine the designs through multiple rounds of color and material feedback with their patient-designers. The kids’ imaginations spark outside-the-box thinking that inspires the Nike design teams to tell their stories in new, creative ways. Beyond sharing their stories, the young designers also get to give back to the hospital and experience the joy of helping other kids facing similar health challenges. Funds raised through the program help Doernbecher provide the care kids need to pursue their passions on the court, field and in every aspect of their lives.

This year’s Doernbecher Freestyle footwear first became available at auction in Portland on October 16. The collection will launch in the U.S. on SNKRS and at select U.S. retail locations this winter. Learn more about the Doernbecher Freestyle 22 patient-designers and their footwear silhouettes — a Nike Air Max 1/97, Nike Structure Plus, Nike Air Force 1 Mid, Nike ACG Rufus, Nike GT Future and Air Jordan 11 Low IE — in the galleries below.

Originally published by Nike.