ORCA Student Collaborates to Make Nike Shoe Design

How do you express your sense of art and design? ORCA Junior Zach Rumbaugh collaborated with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Nike Inc. to create his very own shoe design.

One of six Doernbecher patients selected for the exclusive opportunity, Zach designed a shoe featuring an Air Jordan 17 decked out with his interests. The hexagon eyelets symbolize his goal of becoming a mechanic, the lace toggle has a heart for CPR awareness, and the “38” hangtag represents how many days he spent in the hospital.

Along with these unique features, the shoe’s iridescent purple took inspiration from custom car wraps, and the cat toe box graphic represents his love for felines. Another nod to Zach’s mechanic interest are the soles that glow once exposed to light, much like engine headers that glow under heat.

Zach’s medical journey began in the summer of 2024. While attending a friend’s birthday party, he jumped into the pool. At the time, he was unaware that he had a rare heart condition. The heart condition gives irregular heartbeats when triggered by stress or adrenaline. The coldness of the water triggered the condition, and his heart stopped.

Bystanders performed CPR until he was able to be life-flighted to Doernbecher, and began his 38 day stay at the hospital, beating the odds and making a full recovery.

Doernbecher Freestyle allows young patients to collaborate with Nike Inc. to make one-of-a-kind shoe designs with all profits going to benefit the hospital. The program began in 2004, and since then has raised $44 million thanks to shoe designs like Zach’s.