THE POWER OF CREATIVITY

For Kira Smith, an aspiring designer, crafting her Nike x Doernbecher Dunk Sky Hi Women's Shoe was about as good as it gets. "It was so much fun," she said. "I got to peek inside the design industry and see a glimpse of my future." Kira also got to share something much more personal: her experience with obsessive compulsive disorder. It's an illness she shared with her sister and overcame with the help of the Doernbecher child psychiatry team. "It's been an honor to represent patients with mental illness," she said. "I'm so grateful for everything Doernbecher has done for us."

KIRA'S DESIGN

Though she may sometimes be mistaken for her identical twin, Kate, there's no mistaking Kira's one-of-a-kind Nike Dunk Sky High. Inspired by her love for Victorian fashion and a playful fascination with Alice in Wonderland, Kira's shoe struts its stuff with lace embossing, ribbon laces and a corset detail up the heel. The outsole features Kira's hand-drawn graphics and a quote from a certain Cheshire Cat that reads, "We're all mad here."

BENEFITS

• Lightweight EVA midsole for cushioning
• Hidden 2.6" wedge heel for a feminine yet sporty silhouette
• Solid rubber outsole for durability and traction

ABOUT THE DOERNBECHER FREESTYLE PROGRAM

Doernbecher Children's Hospital has been helping heal children and families in the Oregon and Washington area since 1926. It's a national leader in research and education and offers a wide range of comprehensive pediatric care. The Doernbecher Freestyle program, a partnership between Nike and Doernbecher, allows a group of special patients who have triumphed over serious illnesses to design authentic Nike shoes. Since the partnership began in 2004, the program has raised more than $6 million. This collection is sold on a limited-edition basis at Niketowns and Nike.com.

NIKE DUNK ORIGINS

Be true—to your school colors, to your school of thought. That's been the ethos driving the Nike Dunk since it launched in 1985. Back then, seven college basketball teams broke an unwritten rule and matched their Dunks to their uniforms. A riot of color ensued, and the Nike Dunk has been a symbol of individual expression ever since. Players, skaters and collectors picked up on the shoe and continue to influence it today.