Meet 14 year old Elijah Diggins, a young teen who loves to compete. His favorite sport is baseball, and his pitch is fierce. Last year, Elijah faced his biggest challenge, when he was diagnosed with Burkitt's Leukemia. Elijah became a patient at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, where he underwent chemotherapy for his illness. Elijah is a fighter. While at Doernbecher, he became part of an amazing storyline, and he wanted to tell his story through the Air Foamposite One.
Elijah designed the Foamposite One in a red colorway, after his idol, LeBron James. The sneaker is outfitted with a Black gel sole, but it is the personal message that really tells his story. Elijah's personal smiley face logo is printed on the insole, and it spells his initials when it is turned sideways. The Japanese symbol for "courage" is put in place where Penny's logo would normally be. But it is the chain-links that cover the insole that represents a bracelet his parents gave him before he started chemo. This is Elijah's personal "thank-you" to the hospital that saved his life. It is also Doernbecher x Nike's first collabo with the Foamposite One. Great job Elijah!
Above is 12 year old Daniel Pena, a young kid who loves sports, and has every Michael Jordan shoe released throughout his career. I would say this kid is a REAL sneakerhead! Daniel loves all sports, but his favorite is basketball. Daniel has hemophilia, which really hits him hard in his ankles. But Daniel doesn't let that stop him from competing. He just switches up sports to keep his fighting spirit. When Daniel found out he was designing a Jordan shoe, he was over excited!
The Jordan X was Daniel's design, and befitting as a salute to the 10 years of partnership between Nike and Doernbecher. A first-ever gel sole on the Jordan X, along with a glossy, camo-style print in-between the stripes and along the top panel of these kicks.
Daniel designed a hat with his initials to go with his kicks!
The racing stripe on the back heel tab is a tribute to Daniel's love for BMX racing. The camo-print is a tribute to his love for video games, like "Call of Duty".
These are REAL kids with REAL stories. Some of them are able to defeat their illness, some don't make it. We really don't have a clue as to what these kids go through in everyday life. You have to remember how blessed you are, no matter what you're going through. Life throws us lemons all the time. What are we going to do? Either you're whining and complaining about it, or you make lemonade!
Life is too short to make excuses about what you don't have. Make your dreams come to life, don't wait on anybody to make it happen. Set your goals, give yourself a plan, and execute it. Move with positive energy, and you can do anything in life. The kids at Doernbecher Hospital are not complaining. They are doing something about it. They are making it happen. We'd like to thank Nike and Doernbecher, once again, for helping to fulfill their dreams, and giving them HOPE and a reason to LIVE and LOVE. Cali "O" #TeamKickGame #ChallengeYourself #DoYou
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