Nike’s New Doernbecher Freestyle Collection Features Heartwarming Designs by Hospital Patients

Nike unveiled Friday its 21st Doernbecher Freestyle collection in partnership with the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

The 2025 installment of the collection highlights six models: the Nike V2K Run, Nike Vomero Plus, Nike Air Force 1 ’07, Nike Air Max Dn8, Nike Air Max Plus and Air Jordan 17. Each sneaker has been redesigned by Doernbecher patients, in partnership with Nike volunteer product experts, to highlight the passions and unique stories of each individual. Over a nine-month process, volunteer Nike employees work closely with the young patients to dial in a design with colors, details and materials that reference their courageous journeys.

The Nike V2K Run was designed by Khovny Vignery, 9, who has a rare condition called congenital chylothorax. Her V2K Run features mismatched blue and pink left and right shoes and is adorned with removable shoe charms, pendants and miniature stuffed animals. A friendship bracelet honors her brother, Ryan, while sequins and glitter combine with fur and glow-in-the-dark outsoles for a pair that is arguably the most eye-catching in the collection.

14-year-old Molly Bell, who has autism, designed the Vomero Plus with references to her love of the great outdoors. The aspiring field biologist’s green design is embroidered with the Oregon staple camas flower on its upper while the medial Swoosh features a lenticular forest graphic. The ZoomX-cushioned midsole is colored brown to hide dirt, while the tongue is given an animal print treatment. The shoes also come packaged with a field journal featuring a quote from Molly’s favorite author.

Oli Fasone-Lancaster designed the culinary-themed Nike Air Force 1 ’07. The 10-year-old T-cell lymphoma patient’s dream is to be a chef, which is apparent on nearly every panel of the redesigned classic model. Its gum rubber sole features laser-etched vegetables with even more printed on the insole. One of the most unique features of the design is the miniature silverware that comes neatly tucked into the shoe’s lateral Swoosh logo. And on the outsole, his love for painting rainbows is represented with a multicolor gradient.

Raegan Scheid, 13, is diagnosed with anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery and has undergone open-heart surgery, but was able to return to playing her favorite sport, softball, in May of 2024. This milestone date is referenced on the hangtag of her Air Max Dn8 design, which features a pink upper and numerous sporting details throughout. The sneaker’s Air units are printed with softball stitches, while the upper includes various allusions to the sport. A custom-made heart logo designed by Raegan is featured on the tongue, while the heel Air Max logo becomes “Raegan Max.”

Sergio Cano Marquez has arare genetic disease known as mucopolysaccharidosis type IV A. Inspired by being different, Sergio went all-in on separating his Air Max Plus design from a typical colorway. Not only are the left and right shoes mismatched, but both feature entirely different themes: the right shoe takes on a nighttime theme with video game motifs and references to his love of drawing, while the left features a playful pattern of monster lizards eating pizza in New York. Pizza is a common theme across both shoes, as is basketball, with textured tongues emulating the surface of the latter.

Zach Rumbaugh, an 18-year-old with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, designed the collection’s Air Jordan 17. With a love for tinkering with bikes and cars, Zach applied a chrome finish to the seventeenth Air Jordan model inspired by Michael Jordan’s motorcycle. The number 38, which is how many days Zach spent in the hospital after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, is represented throughout the shoe. Suede, carbon fiber and iridescent details signify car components, while the shoe’s purple upper takes a page from custom wraps.

Since 2004, the Doernbecher Freestyle initiative has raised more than $40 million for the hospital. 100 percent of profits from auctions and sales go to the OHSU Foundation.

Early auctions for the ’25 Nike Doernbecher Freestyle collection began Friday in Portland. An official release will take place on Nike’s Snkrs app and from select retailers later this winter.